Militants tried to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan early on Thursday triggered a shootout with soldiers who killed four Pakistani troops, the military said.

According to a military statement, the attack took place at Hassan Khel, a border city in North Waziristan, former militant fortress, after midnight on Wednesday. It was also said that the attack was thwarted and the militants suffered victims.

That statement does not provide further details. Pakistan Taliban is known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and they are a separate group of Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan, who took over the country in August.

However, the two groups were close allies and TTP leaders and warriors had been for years looking for protection across the border in Afghanistan. Before the Taliban Afghanistan won control of Afghanistan last August, both countries often blame each other to protect militants.