Pakistani troops kill 12 militants as soldier falls in Kurram border clash

In Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani security forces intercepted a contingent of militants attempting to move from Afghanistan into Pakistan. The clash resulted in the death of Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman and the killing of 12 militants identified as part of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Afghan Taliban, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. Afghan Taliban posts reportedly opened fire in support of the infiltration.

The interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack, offered condolences to the soldier’s family, and lauded the forces’ vigilance. The ISPR announced a sanitisation operation to eliminate any remaining “Indian-sponsored” elements and reaffirmed the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the Azm-i-Istehkam plan. Recent data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies shows a sharp rise in terrorist incidents nationwide.