11 Pakistani Soldiers, 19 Militants Killed in Deadly Clash Near Afghan Border in Orakzai

At least 11 Pakistani soldiers and 19 militants were killed early Wednesday during a major counterterrorism operation near the Afghan border, the military said. The fierce clash took place in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a region that has witnessed escalating militant activity in recent months. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani troops raided a hideout of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) before dawn, sparking intense gunfire that lasted several hours. The military identified the slain fighters as “Khwarij,” a term used for militants allegedly backed by foreign intelligence networks, including members of the TTP and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Pakistan’s security forces have repeatedly accused India of supporting insurgent networks in Balochistan and along the Afghan frontier — allegations New Delhi denies. The TTP later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters ambushed Pakistani troops in the mountainous Orakzai area. Militant attacks have sharply increased across Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021, with many Pakistani Taliban fighters believed to be operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan. Security analysts warn the renewed violence poses serious challenges to Islamabad’s counterterrorism strategy.