The assaults took place as security forces attempted to intercept militants infiltrating the Rajgal Valley from Afghanistan, reported Dawn News.

Sources told the newspaper that this was the first time that the banned Gul Bahadur group and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pak­istan (TTP) jointly carried out atta­cks in the region, expanding their operations beyond their usual strongholds in Bannu, Lakki Mar­wat and Karak to the Khyber district

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said four terrorists were killed in the incident.

ISPR identified the three soldiers, including Havildar Inam Gul, 37, resident of Mianwali district; Sepoy Muhammad Imran, 29, resident of Tank district; and Sepoy Iltaf Khan, 22, resident of Mardan district, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

Zarin Khan, a resident of the area, told Dawn by phone that Bagh Markaz, the local market, was open on Friday morning, with shops operating as usual and transport running normally. He observed no unusual movement of security forces despite the militant attack.