Distraught relatives mourn Pakistan soldier killed in border clashes with Afghanistan

(28 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY:L ASSOCIATED PRESS Lakki Marwat, Pakistan - 28 February 2026 1. Various of Pakistan army troops carrying coffin of Zahid Waqar, who was killed in border clashes 2. Army troops providing security 3. Army officers talking to relative 4. Various of funeral prayer 5. Relatives praying after funeral 6. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Haji Anwer Kamal Khan, Relative of killed soldier: "He was martyred at the Afghanistan border area. His job was with Frontier Core One. He sacrificed himself for his nation and country, we are proud of his martyrdom.” 7. Various of relatives looking at deceased after funeral prayers 8. Body being lowered into the grave 9. Relatives crying 10.⁠ Army troops saluting at grave STORYLINE: A Pakistani soldier killed in border clashes with Afghanistan was laid to rest with full military honours in his hometown on Saturday. A large number of people, including military officials, joined distraught relatives in Lakki Marwat to pay their last respects to Zahid Waqar. One relative said the soldier was a national hero for defending his country and said his family was proud of him. Pakistan’s military, backed by artillery and air power, struck more Afghan military installations overnight and into early Saturday. Officials claimed that more than 331 Afghan Taliban forces had been killed and over 500 others wounded during the ongoing military strikes. The Afghan government on Friday said 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that Afghan losses were far lower than Pakistan claimed. The numbers released by both sides could not be verified independently. The two sides have targeted each other’s military positions since Thursday night, when Afghanistan launched strikes in response to Pakistani attacks that Islamabad said hit seven training camps and hideouts of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. The group is separate but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...