Nineteen Pakistan soldiers killed in clashes

14/9/2025 5:55

Nineteen Pakistani

soldiers were killed on Saturday in two separate clashes with

Islamist fighters in the country's northwest, where militants

have ramped up attacks on security forces since the Taliban

takeover in Afghanistan, the army said.



In the first incident, soldiers moving in a vehicle convoy

came under fire in the mountainous Badar area of South

Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan.



Pakistan's military said in a statement that 12 soldiers and

13 militants were killed "after an intense exchange of fire".



At least four people were injured, security officials said.



The Pakistani Taliban, a jihadist group that Islamabad says

is based in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility, saying it had

also captured weapons and drones from the soldiers.



Residents said they saw helicopters in the air for hours

after the early morning attack, taking the casualties to

hospital and searching for the attackers.



In another clash in the Lower Dir area, seven soldiers and

10 insurgents were killed in a shootout after troops discovered

a militant hideout, the army said in a separate statement.



Islamabad alleges that the Pakistani Taliban is being

harboured by the Afghan Taliban administration with the support

of India, a source of tension with Kabul and New Delhi, which

both deny the charge. The group is inspired by the Afghan

Taliban.



The Pakistani group has stepped up attacks, targeting

Pakistani security forces since the Afghan Taliban swept to

power in 2021.



"Pakistan expects the interim Afghan Government to uphold

its responsibilities and deny use of its soil for terrorists'

activities against Pakistan," Pakistan's military said.