2 soldiers killed in NW Pakistan clash with militants

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – At least two Pakistan Army troops and as many militants were killed in an armed clash in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday.

The gunfight took place in the northwestern North Waziristan tribal region.

Confirming the killing of two soldiers, a statement from the army said: “On February 26, an exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces in the general area of Spinwam, North Waziristan district. Resultantly, two terrorists were killed, while two terrorists were apprehended. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists.”

Although no information on the attackers’ affiliation was provided in the statement, the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a conglomerate of various militant outfits in the country, has long been involved in attacks on security forces in the adjoining South Waziristan district.

Following a series of security operations in the former tribal districts of South Waziristan and North Waziristan, once dubbed the “heartland of militancy,” in 2014, the group was pushed towards Afghanistan, where it is reportedly operating from bordering areas.

The South Asian country has seen a resurgence of militancy, mainly in border areas, following the withdrawal of US troops and return to power of Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban have often officially denied direct links with the Pakistani Taliban, who are a loose conglomeration of sorts, under the umbrella-term of the Taliban, with whom they claim to be ideologically associated.

Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan share 18 border crossing points, with the busiest ones being the northwestern Torkham and Chaman border posts.

Last week, Pakistan warned the interim Afghan Taliban administration that if cross-border attacks in the country were not stopped, Islamabad would take action against the attackers within Afghanistan.

A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif delivered this message to Afghanistan’s acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar during his day-long visit to Kabul on February 22.