At least 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two senior officers, were martyred in a fierce gun battle with militants near the Afghan border, the military confirmed on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the confrontation erupted during an intelligence-based operation in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operation targeted members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban.

The military described the engagement as an “intense exchange of fire” with the militants, referred to in official statements as “Khawarij”—a term used for extremist banned outfits. The Pakistan Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack.

During the clash, Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif, Major Tayyab Rahat, and nine other soldiers were killed in action. Security forces retaliated strongly, killing 19 militants, the ISPR said.

Reports from Reuters, citing security officials, suggested that the militants ambushed a military convoy using a roadside bomb before unleashing heavy gunfire.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, praising their “unmatched courage and sacrifice” in defending the nation. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Over recent months, Pakistan’s northwestern region has witnessed a surge in militant activity, with the TTP intensifying attacks against security personnel. The group, which seeks to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic rule, has repeatedly targeted military and police installations.

Islamabad accuses the TTP of using safe havens inside Afghanistan to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan—an allegation Kabul denies. Pakistan has also claimed that India supports and funds these militant operations, a charge New Delhi rejects.

The Orakzai operation highlights the escalating threat along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where security forces continue their counterterrorism campaign amid growing regional instability.