ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani soldiers and seven “Indian-sponsored” militants were killed in separate encounters in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said late Thursday.
Islamabad has accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors since traded fire earlier this month in worst fighting between them in decades. New Delhi denies the allegations.
On Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said the militants attempted to attack a security forces’ check-post in KP’s North Waziristan district, which was effectively thwarted by Pakistani forces.
“Indian sponsored khwarij [militants] attempted to attack a Security Forces Check Post in general area Shawal, North Waziristan District. The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, six Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” it said in a statement.
“However, during intense fire exchange, Lt. Daniyal Ismail… a brave young officer who was leading his troops from front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat along with his three men.”
Pakistani security forces neutralized one more “Indian-sponsored” militant in another encounter in the Chitral district, according to the ISPR.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area,” it added.
Pakistan and India often accuse each other of supporting militancy. This month’s standoff, which saw the neighbors trade missiles, drones and artillery fire, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement.
Islamabad blames India of backing a separatist insurgency in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province as well as religiously motivated militant groups, like the Pakistani Taliban, in KP. India denies the allegations.
