Pakistan’s military said an army officer and seven militants were killed during a security operation in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said on Saturday that 27-year-old officer Hamza Akram was killed during an exchange of fire with militants. The military said weapons and ammunition were recovered following the operation.
The military described the militants as “India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term Pakistani authorities use for members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The allegation of Indian backing could not be independently verified.
The operation comes amid continued militant violence and intensified security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the TTP of maintaining hideouts in Afghanistan and planning attacks against Pakistan from across the border.
Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have rejected the allegations, saying Afghanistan territory is not being allowed to be used against other countries.
The TTP issue remains a major source of tension between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan pressing for action against militants it blames for attacks inside the country and Afghan authorities calling for the dispute to be addressed through dialogue.
The latest operation underscores the continuing security challenges facing Pakistan’s northwestern region, where militant attacks and counterterrorism operations have remained frequent.
