Pakistani security forces raided a militant hideout near the Afghan border before dawn on Wednesday, triggering a fierce gunbattle that resulted in the deaths of 11 soldiers, including two high-ranking officers, and 19 insurgents, according to a military statement.

The operation in the restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highlights the persistent security challenges in the region.

The deadly encounter in Orakzai district, which the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP) has claimed responsibility for, represents one of the deadliest single engagements for Pakistani security forces in recent months. It occurs amid a sharp surge in militant violence in Pakistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces bearing the brunt of the attacks.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, reported that the operation was launched late Tuesday based on intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area. Security forces effectively engaged the militants at their location, leading to the killing of 19 insurgents.

However, the success came at a high cost. During an intense exchange of fire, 11 security personnel lost their lives. The military identified the slain officers as Lt. Col. Junaid Arif, 39, and Major Tayyab Rahat, 33, who "fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom" along with nine other soldiers. The military has since launched a sanitization operation in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorist presence.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the troops who lost their lives and praised the security forces for their action against the militants. The military reaffirmed that Pakistan's security forces "are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country".

This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of escalating violence. A recent report from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) recorded a 46% surge in violence in Pakistan in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter. The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan accounted for 96% of all violence in the country during this period, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being the worst-hit region. This attack follows another major clash in September in South Waziristan that killed 12 Pakistani soldiers. (ILKHA)