Six soldiers killed in Hangu attack, eight attackers killed: ISPR

Six soldiers, including two army officers, were killed and eight attackers were killed in a clash in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the military's media wing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement was carried by Balochistan Pulse on Monday, following an earlier report by Organiser.

The ISPR said two army officers were among the six soldiers killed, using the word "martyred" for the dead personnel. Eight terrorists were killed during the operation, according to the statement. The statement did not give the names or ranks of the deceased soldiers, nor did it specify the exact location within Hangu district or the time of the encounter.

Organiser, an Indian outlet, reported that the attack was carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Its headline said: "Pakistan: Two Army officers among six soldiers killed in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in TTP attack." The full text of the Organiser report was not retrievable, and its standfirst carried only the same headline. The ISPR statement as carried by Balochistan Pulse did not name the TTP or any other group, and Skardu Times could not independently verify the TTP involvement claim.

Hangu is a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that has seen periodic militant attacks on security forces in recent years. Security forces have conducted repeated operations in the district and surrounding areas against armed groups. No further details, including the exact location within Hangu, the number of wounded, or the weapons recovered, were immediately available from official sources.

The incident was reported on Monday, but the date of the clash was not immediately clear. The military has not issued a separate statement to the press beyond the one cited. Skardu Times will update this report if the ISPR releases names or additional details.