North Waziristan: The Pakistani military announced on Thursday that a fierce clash in North Waziristan resulted in the death of one soldier and 12 militants.
According to an official statement from the Pakistan Army, security forces were conducting an intelligence-based operation against "Khawarij" in the region when the confrontation erupted. The Pakistani government refers to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Khawarij."
TTP has been carrying out almost daily attacks on Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In recent months, these attacks—claimed by the Pakistani Taliban—have resulted in hundreds of casualties.
Pakistani officials have accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to TTP militants in Afghanistan, from where they allegedly plan and execute attacks against Pakistan. However, the Afghan Taliban have consistently denied these allegations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali, stated that the violence perpetrated by TTP militants, who allegedly have safe havens in Afghanistan, remains a key factor in deteriorating relations between the two neighboring countries.
Additionally, Islamabad repatriated the body of an Afghan national killed during recent military operations against the TTP. Shafqat Ali claimed that the deceased was the son of the deputy governor of Afghanistan’s Badghis province under the Taliban administration.
He urged the Afghan Taliban to take clear and effective action against terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan.
As of now, Afghan Taliban officials have not responded to these claims.
