19 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in exchanges of fire between the Pakistani military and militants operating in the country. These confrontations with an armed group in Pakistan occurred amid increased unrest in the region following the Taliban’s takeover of neighboring Afghanistan. Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 2021, attacks on Pakistani security forces by the militant group known as the Pakistani Taliban have increased.
The first attack took place near the regional border shared by Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Bandar area of South Waziristan. The attack targeted a vehicle carrying Pakistani soldiers. In this attack, 12 soldiers and 13 militants were killed, and four people were injured. The militant group Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had also seized weapons and drones from the soldiers. In another exchange of fire in Pakistan’s Lower Dir region, seven soldiers and ten militants were killed. These attacks began when soldiers discovered a hideout used by the militants.
Pakistan believes that the Pakistani Taliban are based in Afghanistan with the support of India and the Taliban. However, both governments deny these allegations. The Pakistani military stated that the Afghan government should fulfill its responsibilities and not allow its territory to be used for planning and executing terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
