Seven Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Suicide Attack Near Afghan Border Amid Fragile Pakistan-Afghanistan Truce

Two additional terrorists attempted to infiltrate the facility but were fatally shot by security forces (Representative Image)

Islamabad:

A suicide attack near the Afghan border on Friday resulted in the deaths of at least seven Pakistani soldiers. According to Pakistani media reports, terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan carried out the assault amid a delicate ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul that had temporarily halted intense fighting between the former allies earlier this month.

The attack targeted a Pakistani military camp in North Waziristan, leaving seven soldiers dead and 13 injured. Reuters, citing Pakistani officials, reported that a terrorist drove an explosive-laden vehicle into the boundary wall of a fort serving as a military installation.

Officials confirmed that two additional terrorists who attempted to breach the facility were neutralized by security forces.

Terrorism has become a significant point of contention in Pakistan's relationship with the Afghan Taliban, which reclaimed power in Kabul following the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021.

The neighboring nations recently engaged in fierce ground combat, with Pakistan launching airstrikes across their disputed frontier. These actions resulted in dozens of casualties and hundreds of injuries before the establishment of a 48-hour truce scheduled to expire at 1 pm (local time) on Friday.

The current conflict escalated after Islamabad demanded that Kabul control militants who had intensified attacks within Pakistan, claiming these operatives were functioning from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Thursday that Pakistan "retaliated" after losing patience with Afghanistan following multiple terrorist attacks, but expressed willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve the conflict.

The Taliban has denied these allegations and instead accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan, instigating border tensions, and harboring ISIS-affiliated terrorists to undermine Afghanistan's stability and sovereignty. Islamabad rejects these accusations.

Although these Islamic nations have experienced previous conflicts, the current fighting represents their most severe confrontation in decades. The situation has prompted intervention from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have offered mediation to help end the hostilities.