 "A Pakistan army convoy patrols along a road in Hyderabad on February 6, 2024, ahead of Pakistan's general election. (Representative Photo, Credit: AFP)")
Eleven members of Pakistan’s paramilitary forces, including two officers, were killed in an ambush by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) gunmen near the Afghan border, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday.
According to Pakistani security officials, roadside bombs struck the convoy before the gunmen opened fire in the northwestern Kurram district.
Pakistan’s army said in a statement that the soldiers were killed during an operation in which 19 gunmen were also slain in the nearby Orakzai district.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack while speaking to Reuters.
Operation in Orakzai kills 19 gunmen
According to local reports, Pakistan’s military said that security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation late Tuesday in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
During the operation, 19 gunman were killed in what the army described as “effective engagement” by troops, the Army said.
Rising violence across tribal districts
Last month, at least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in South Waziristan, also in the same Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Recently, Pakistani forces reportedly bombed a village in the province targeting a TTP stronghold, resulting in multiple civilian casualties.
Escalating TTP insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In recent months, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — which seeks to overthrow the government and impose its hardline version of Islamic rule — has intensified attacks on security forces.
Islamabad accuses the group of using Afghan soil for training and planning attacks.
Islamabad blames Kabul for cross-border attacks
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in recent years due to its repressive approach and human rights abuses, but as usual, Islamabad has accused Kabul of failing to prevent TTP fighters from launching cross-border assaults.
Afghanistan has rejected the allegations, reiterating its commitment to ensuring that its soil is not used for attacks on Pakistan.