Pakistan: Security forces clash with militants in North Waziristan district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province) June 21

Event

Militants killed two soldiers, including an officer, during clashes in North Waziristan district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province) on Sunday, June 21. The militants fired on security forces as they conducted a patrol to the east of Ghariom in neighboring South Waziristan district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province), and an exchange of fire ensured. At least one militant was killed in the encounter and government forces later cleared a militant compound in North Waziristan district. The operations comes ahead of the planned reopening of the Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan on Monday, June 22, which will allow the movement of goods through the district to resume.  

Further security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are likely in the medium term.

Context

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qai'da, Islamic State (IS) affiliates, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the Afghan Taliban, and other Islamist militant groups continue to pose a threat in Pakistan's western border region despite continued military operations aimed at improving security in the area.

Advice

Individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and in Pakistan more generally, are advised to remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.

Due to a high threat from terrorism, as well as kidnapping and sectarian violence, some Western governments advise their citizens to reconsider travel to the country as foreign nationals, and Westerners, in particular, may be directly targeted.