Taliban militants from Pakistan have attacked a checkpoint and killed six soldiers in an area of northwestern Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan, an official said today.

Last night, more than ten gunmen attacked a checkpoint in Kurram district in Hyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with the raid evolving into an exchange of fire.

“Six members of the security forces were martyred (killed) and four wounded, while two militants were killed in the clashes, a Pakistani government official based in Kurram told the French News Agency who wished to remain anonymous because he is not authorised to speak to the media. The Taliban of Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

In recent months, this group has stepped up its violent campaign against Pakistani security forces in the mountainous areas bordering Afghanistan, which has been ruled by the Taliban since the summer of 2021.

For Pakistani authorities, Kabul is encouraging the TTP’s reinforcement by harbouring them on Afghan soil – something the Afghan Taliban deny.

The border between the two countries has been officially closed since the October clashes that caused a total of dozens of deaths. Pakistan announced last week, however, that it would allow United Nations humanitarian aid to temporarily enter Afghanistan.