Six Pakistani Soldiers, Including Captain, Killed In IED Blast In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | World News

At least six Pakistani soldiers, including a Captain, were killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a military convoy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district on Wednesday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the army’s media wing, the convoy was attacked in the Sultani area near the Afghan border when terrorists opened fire and detonated an explosive device near Dogar, killing an officer and five soldiers.

Security forces immediately retaliated, killing seven militants during an exchange of fire. ISPR added that the area has been cordoned off and a search operation is on to eliminate any remaining threats.

Pakistan has seen a significant increase in militant activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where security forces and law enforcement are frequent targets. The increase in violence comes after a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) expires in 2022.

This comes amid reports that authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have tightened controls on residents seeking employment abroad by restricting the issuance of passports, travel permits and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Authorities cited “security concerns” for these measures, which are often used to suppress dissent and restrict travel by people with political or family ties to activities deemed sensitive by the administration.

A lack of job opportunities, rising cost of living and rising poverty have contributed to increased mental health problems and drug use among the region’s more educated and socially conscious population, according to a report by Amnesty International.

The report noted that demonstrations recently broke out in Muzaffarabad, where at least nine people were killed and scores injured as frustrated youth took to the streets to express their long-standing grievances.

In response, Pakistani authorities reportedly used excessive force to disperse peaceful protests and imposed communications blackouts to suppress dissent.