10 Pakistani soldiers killed in two separate incidents: Military

Ten Pakistani soldiers have been killed by armed rebels in two separate incidents on Saturday in the country’s northwestern and southwestern provinces, the military said.

Ten Pakistani soldiers have been killed by armed rebels in two separate incidents on Saturday in the country’s northwestern and southwestern provinces, the military said.

Six soldiers patrolling near the Afghan border were killed in North Waziristan when the attackers opened fire from the Afghan side, according to a statement by Pakistan military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The statement said “terrorists from across the border” fired on a patrol near Gurbaz in the North Waziristan region.

Separately, the military said four paramilitary troops were killed in the southwestern province of Balochistan during a combing operation against the armed fighters.

The rebels fired on the soldiers during the operation between Hushab and Turbat areas in Balochistan. A senior army officer was among those killed.

The North Waziristan ambush was claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, Reuters news agency said. The group is separate from the Taliban across the border in Afghanistan.

“These are dying efforts of inimical forces while Pakistan moves from stability to enduring peace. It’s time for the world to facilitate regional peace,” Pakistan military’s spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter.