ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Six Pakistani soldiers and 22 militants were killed in a series of clashes near the Afghan border on Saturday, the Pakistani military said in a statement.
The firefights occurred in three districts of Waziristan and neighboring areas during intelligence-based operations conducted by the army.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of Sunni Islamist militant factions, claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying its fighters killed the soldiers by storming a security checkpoint. The group did not disclose how many of its militants were killed in the clashes.
Surge in TTP attacks
The TTP has intensified its attacks in recent months, primarily targeting Pakistan’s security forces. The group, which has waged a long-running insurgency to overthrow the government and impose strict Islamic rule, has become an increasing threat to stability in the region.
The Pakistani government has repeatedly accused the Taliban of harboring and supporting the TTP, a charge the Taliban deny. The Taliban, who have been in control of Afghanistan since 2021, have called the TTP an “internal issue” of Pakistan and refrained from taking direct action against the group.
