Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a deadly escalation of violence, three Pakistani soldiers and 19 militants were killed during intense clashes in the country’s volatile northwestern region, the military reported Tuesday.
The confrontations occurred at three separate locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. According to a military statement, the soldiers engaged in fierce firefights with the militants, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
The region has seen a sharp surge in militant activity, particularly after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the most active militant group in the area, which frequently targets security forces. Kabul, however, denies these claims.
Tuesday’s clashes highlight the ongoing security crisis in Pakistan’s border regions. In 2024 alone, the military has reported 383 soldiers and 925 militants killed in various skirmishes, underscoring the intensity of the conflict.
The surge in attacks has particularly affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southwestern province of Balochistan, putting immense pressure on Pakistan’s security forces to curb the violence.
