ISLAMABAD: Twelve Pakistani soldiers and 35 militants were killed in clashes this week near the country’s border with Afghanistan in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.

Pakistani security forces raided a hideout of the Pakistani Taliban in KP’s Bajaur district in which 22 militants were killed in an exchange of fire, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.

Another 13 militants were killed in an encounter in the South Waziristan district. The military said the deceased militants belonged to the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group.

“However, during intense fire exchange, twelve brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom),” the ISPR said in a statement.

The death toll underscores the struggles Pakistan faces as it tries to contain surging militancy in KP, which borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the state broke down in November 2022.

The Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.

“Intelligence reports have unequivocally confirmed physical involvement of Afghan nationals in these heinous acts,” the ISPR said. “Besides, use of Afghan soil against Pakistan by Fitna al Khawarij [Pakistani Taliban] terrorists continues to remain a grave point of concern. Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan Government to uphold its responsibilities and deny use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.”

There was no immediate comment from Kabul in response to the Pakistan military’s statement.

In recent months, Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil and India of backing militant groups for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi both deny the allegation.