Clashes Near Afghan Border Kill 12 Soldiers, 35 Militants in Pakistan

Pakistani security forces recently conducted raids on two Pakistani Taliban hideouts near the Afghan border, resulting in the deaths of 12 soldiers and 35 militants. The raids took place in the Bajaur district, where 22 militants were killed, and in South Waziristan, where 13 militants and 12 soldiers died during intense clashes. The Pakistani military accused militants of using Afghan territory to launch attacks and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to prevent such activities. The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attacks and is reportedly based in Afghanistan, maintaining close ties with but distinct from the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan alleged Indian support for the Pakistani Taliban, though no evidence was presented, and India denies such accusations. This surge in militant attacks reflects ongoing security challenges for Pakistan, especially since the Afghan Taliban's rise to power in 2021, which has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban and provided them refuge across the border.