A suicide car bomber linked to the Pakistani Taliban attacked a security forces compound in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, near the Afghan border on Friday, sparking a fierce gun battle that left at least six militants and one soldier dead, police said.

Local police official Irfan Ali said the blast damaged nearby houses in the area. The attackers, armed with guns, attempted to storm the compound after the explosion, according to another officer, Afzal Khan. The military has yet to comment on the incident.

The assault comes as Pakistan and Afghanistan observe a temporary ceasefire, set to expire Friday evening, after deadly cross-border clashes earlier this week that killed dozens on both sides. The truce was mediated by “friendly countries,” with local media reporting that Qatar has offered to host peace talks in Doha—though neither government has confirmed this.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters that Islamabad wants Kabul to prevent militants from using Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan. He said the ceasefire remains intact and declined to speculate on an extension.

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks this year, mostly blamed on the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The military claims to have killed 88 militants in operations this week alone.