Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack near the Afghan border today, Pakistani security officials said, amid a fragile truce between Islamabad and Kabul that halted days of fierce fighting between the former allies this month.
These neighboring countries in South Asia were involved in fierce land conflicts and in addition the Pakistan launched airstrikes along their disputed border killing dozens and injuring hundreds before agreeing to a 48-hour ceasefire expected to end today at 16:00 Greek time.
The soldiers were killed in an attack by gunmen on a Pakistani army camp in North Waziristan that left 13 people injured, five security officials said.
While one militant drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a fort serving as a camp, two others tried to enter the site and were shot dead, the sources said.
Pakistan’s military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gun violence in Pakistan has been a major irritant in its relationship with the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in Kabul after the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021.
The latest conflict between the two countries was sparked after Islamabad demanded Kabul clamp down on militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they were operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said yesterday that Pakistan had “retaliated” as it lost patience with Afghanistan following a series of militant attacks, but said it was ready for talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
The Taliban deny the charge and accuse the Pakistani military of spreading disinformation about Afghanistan, stoking border tensions and harboring ISIS-linked militants to undermine its stability and sovereignty.
Islamabad denies the accusations.
Although Islamic nations have clashed in the past, this month’s fighting is the worst in decades. They have attracted the attention of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have mediated and sought to end the fighting.
US President Donald Trump has said he can help resolve the conflict.
Source :Skai
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