In its statement, the Chinese embassy strongly condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

According to Pakistani media, the ministry's statement emphasized that the decision was made to maintain national order and protect the.

The fire started in a ground-floor shop of the building, officials said.

Among those killed was Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali Shoukat, who had been leading the operation against the militants.

The operation targeted an insurgent hideout in a region once dominated by the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The violence, stemming from a protracted land dispute, erupted over the weekend in Kurram, a volatile district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In August 2024 alone, Pakistan experienced 59 attacks, most of them claimed by the TTP, according to reports. The rise.

"We hope to continue our cooperation to ensure the security and dignity of refugees within our borders," he said.

On Tuesday, Taliban Consul General Muhebullah Shakir and his colleague remained seated during the anthem at an event in Peshawar.