Four soldiers killed in militant clash near Afghanistan border

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Four soldiers were martyred in a clash with militants in South Waziristan, boarding Afghanistan, the military said on Tuesday, in the latest escalation of violence in a region long plagued by insurgency.

“On night 12/13 August 2024, fire exchange took place between security forces and Khwarij in South Waziristan District,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “Resultantly, six Khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops.”

However, during the intense fire exchange, four soldiers – Havildar Nisar Hussain, 34, resident of District Kurram; Naik Rashid Gul, 34, resident of District Kurram; Naik Irfan Ullah Khan, 30, resident of District Lakki Marwat; and Sepoy Usman Rafaqat, 21, resident of District Haripur – “having fought gallantly embraced Shahadat”.

The military said a sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other “Kharji” found in the area. “Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

The incident follows a series of attacks on security forces in provinces bordering Afghanistan, where the Taliban took power in 2021.

Media reports said the attack on the checkpoint in Upper South Waziristan district also injured 27 others on Monday evening.

The militants, armed with RPGs and other heavy weapons, attacked the Mami Khel checkpoint located between Tiarza and Ladha tehsils of Upper South Waziristan.

Another FC checkpoint in the Zermelan area of Toi Khullah Tehsil was also attacked late on Monday, but no casualties were reported. In a separate incident, a tribal elder was killed and another critically wounded in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Bajaur on Tuesday.