Six Pakistani soldiers killed ‘in clash with militants’ near Afghan border

Six Pakistani soldiers, including a captain, have been killed in a gun battle with militants near the Afghan border in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the military’s media wing.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Wednesday that the soldiers were killed during an operation on militant hideouts in Dogar, carried out based on intelligence reports.

Seven militants were also killed, the ISPR claimed, according to Reuters.

The statement said the operation was launched after receiving information about the presence of members of a “trouble-causing militant group” in Dogar.

The Pakistani military often refers to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by that term, according to the newspaper Dawn.

Islamabad accuses the “India-backed” TTP of launching cross-border attacks from safe havens in Afghanistan, alleging that the group receives covert support to “destabilise” Pakistan. 

Both India and Afghanistan have consistently denied such claims.

In recent weeks, attacks on Pakistani troops have intensified in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border. 

Security instability has also persisted in Balochistan, where insurgent activity continues despite ongoing operations.