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Modi on Pakistan's role in Afghanistan
03:05 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

NEW: Pakistani Taliban takes credit for attack

Army spokesman: Militants strike government troops in northwest Pakistan

17 suspected militants died, others escape after long battle, spokesman says

Pakistani Taliban says it's joining forces with fellow militant group Lashkar-i-Islam

CNN  — 

Violence has flared again in northwest Pakistan, where terrorists attacked army troops and two militant groups announced an alliance intent on starting a war against security forces.

Pakistani army spokesman Asim Bajwa said in a statement Saturday that close to 60 terrorists struck security forces in Khyber Agency, a region west of Peshawar that borders Afghanistan.

The two sides waged a lengthy battle, after which 17 militants were dead while others managed to escape, Bajwa said.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The region has long been a hotbed for armed anti-government activity, not to mention U.S. drone strikes targeting suspected terrorists.

Sources: Drone strikes kill 8 in Afghanistan, Pakistan

The Pakistani Taliban has been one of the most destabilizing forces in the Asian nation. In a statement, the outlawed organization threatened to foment more unrest as it announced it will send fighters to Khyber Agency and join forces with the militant group Lashkar-i-Islam.

There, the allied forces plan to wage war with Pakistani authorities, according to the statement.