Security forces raided a hideout of the Pakistani Taliban near the Afghan border before dawn, triggering a fierce gunbattle that left 11 soldiers and 19 insurgents dead, the military said.
The operation took place in Orakzai district in the restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a statement from the military.
The military described the slain insurgents as “Khwarij” – a term which the government uses for insurgents it claims are backed by India, including members of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army.
Pakistani authorities have long accused New Delhi of supporting separatists in Balochistan and Pakistani Taliban fighters, allegations India denies.
The Pakistani Taliban, separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for attacking troops in Orakzai.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for killing insurgents and paid tribute to the troops who lost their lives.
The military said the slain soldiers included Lt Col Junaid Arif and Maj Tayyab Rahat, who “fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom” along with nine other soldiers. — AP
