Peshawar: Pakistan‘s Taliban The military on Tuesday accused the military of breaking a fragile ceasefire after the military said five soldiers and at least four terrorists were killed in a gun battle in the country’s northwest.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced an indefinite ceasefire in June to facilitate peace talks by neighboring countries. AfghanistanBut since then there have been regular clashes, despite both sides saying that the ceasefire was still in progress.
In fresh clashes on Monday, the Pakistan Army said it raided a terrorist hideout in Boya, North Waziristan, following an intelligence input.
“There was a fierce exchange of fire between our soldiers and the terrorists,” the army’s public relations wing said in a statement.
It said that four terrorists were killed, and that five soldiers, including an officer, had “embraced martyrdom”.
On Tuesday, a TTP commander confirmed the clashes and accused the government of bad faith, saying they were recently attacked by troops in six districts, including Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“The government is not honoring its commitment regarding the ceasefire,” the commander told AFP.
A government official involved in talks with the group accused them of “targeted killings” and “increasing their movements” in parts of the country.
Since the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan last year Islamabad have regularly complained of attacks by TTPs, especially along their porous border.
The Pakistan and Afghanistan Taliban are different groups, but share a similar ideology.
Afghanistan says it will not allow its land to be used by foreign extremists, but hundreds Pakistan Taliban The fighters are believed to be in the country, as well as most of the group’s leadership.
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Army marked Defense Day by honoring those killed in the 1965 war with India.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced an indefinite ceasefire in June to facilitate peace talks by neighboring countries. AfghanistanBut since then there have been regular clashes, despite both sides saying that the ceasefire was still in progress.
In fresh clashes on Monday, the Pakistan Army said it raided a terrorist hideout in Boya, North Waziristan, following an intelligence input.
“There was a fierce exchange of fire between our soldiers and the terrorists,” the army’s public relations wing said in a statement.
It said that four terrorists were killed, and that five soldiers, including an officer, had “embraced martyrdom”.
On Tuesday, a TTP commander confirmed the clashes and accused the government of bad faith, saying they were recently attacked by troops in six districts, including Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“The government is not honoring its commitment regarding the ceasefire,” the commander told AFP.
A government official involved in talks with the group accused them of “targeted killings” and “increasing their movements” in parts of the country.
Since the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan last year Islamabad have regularly complained of attacks by TTPs, especially along their porous border.
The Pakistan and Afghanistan Taliban are different groups, but share a similar ideology.
Afghanistan says it will not allow its land to be used by foreign extremists, but hundreds Pakistan Taliban The fighters are believed to be in the country, as well as most of the group’s leadership.
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Army marked Defense Day by honoring those killed in the 1965 war with India.