Pakistani Military Kills 19 Militants, Loses 11 Soldiers Near Afghan Border

The Pakistani military conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Orakzai district near the Afghan border, resulting in a deadly clash that killed 11 soldiers, including senior officers Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif and Major Tayyab Rahat, and 19 militants. The militants, identified by the military as "Khawarij," include members of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistani authorities accuse India of sponsoring these insurgents, a claim denied by India. The region has seen a surge in militant violence, linked to the porous Afghanistan border and the presence of militant groups using Afghan territory as a base. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the military's efforts and vowed to eradicate terrorism, emphasizing the government's resolve to counter Indian-backed militant elements. The violence marks 2025 as the deadliest year in Pakistan in over a decade, with a significant increase in attacks and counter-terrorism operations in recent months.