12 Pak soldiers, 35 terrorists killed in clashes near Afghan border

The Pakistan army said at least 12 soldiers and 35 terrorists allegedly belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been killed in two separate operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said on Saturday that the operations were conducted in the last four days.

An intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in Bajaur district and in an intense exchange of fire, 22 terrorists belonging to the TTP were killed, it said.

In another encounter that took place in South Waziristan district, 13 TTP terrorists were neutralised and 12 soldiers lost their lives in the intense exchange of fire, the ISPR said. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists, it said.

The ISPR claimed the involvement of Afghan nationals in these terrorist acts. The ISPR said Pakistan expected the Taliban government in Afghanistan to uphold its responsibilities and deny the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Islamabad.

Sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists in the area, the ISPR said.