Pakistan's military has reported that six soldiers were killed during a gunfight with Islamist militants in the volatile North Waziristan district. This region, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has historically been a stronghold for insurgents.

Six Pakistani soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were killed on Friday night in a confrontation with Islamist militants in North Waziristan, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a statement from Pakistan's military.

The military confirmed the casualties in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, adding that six militants were also killed during the clash. Among the fallen was Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali Shouka, who was leading the troops in the fight.

While the military did not specify any militant group affiliation, the region was previously used as a stronghold by the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This group, along with other foreign militants, was expelled in multiple operations carried out by the Pakistani army.

The TTP has close ties with the Afghan Taliban, who have ruled Afghanistan since they took power in 2021. Both groups share the goal of enforcing a strict version of Islamic law. Since the Afghan Taliban's rise to power, the TTP has become more emboldened, increasing its operations. Over the years, the group has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 80,000 Pakistanis.

Pakistan asserts that the TTP now operates from bases in neighboring Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban administration of providing them with refuge near the border, a claim that the Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied.

In September, Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, cautioned the Security Council that the TTP could soon emerge as a "spearhead of global terrorist goals" through alliances with groups like al-Qaida.