Pakistani media have reported that security forces killed eight militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as they attempted to cross into Bajaur district from Afghanistan’s Kunar province on Tuesday.
According to Dawn newspaper, citing security sources, the militants were intercepted and killed during an intelligence-based operation in the mountainous Lowi Mamund area of Bajaur. The Pakistani military has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Following the operation, security forces reportedly increased surveillance and patrols along the border to prevent further infiltration by militants based in Afghanistan.
Residents of the area said the clashes between security personnel and militants lasted for several hours. One child was reportedly injured during the fighting.
Separately, local sources reported heavy clashes between the army and TTP fighters in the Ghanam Shah Mamund area of Bajaur on the same day.
The TTP later confirmed the clashes in a statement, saying that Pakistani forces had attacked its hideouts, but claimed its fighters had managed to escape.
Cross-border attacks and militant infiltration from Afghanistan have been a growing concern for Islamabad, which has repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities in Kabul to prevent TTP militants from using Afghan territory as a staging ground.
