Sixteen soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces check post in the general area of Makeen, South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the night of December 20-21, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

“The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, eight khwarij were sent to hell,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The deceased soldiers were identified as Sepoy Ihsanul Haq, 22, a Lower Dir resident; Sepoy Faiz Muhammad, 22, a Mansehra resident; Lance Naik Sher Muhammad, 26, a Malakand resident; Lance Naik Mosawir Shaheen, 29, a Kohat resident; Lance Naik Liaqat Ali, 30, a Kurram resident; Lance Naik Muhammad Ishaq, 31, Karak resident; Lance Naik Hamid Ali, a Swabi resident; Havaldar Umer Hayat, 40, a Kohat resident; Havaldar Tahir Mehmood, 41, a Kohat resident; Havaldar Muhammad Hayat, 37, a Bannu resident; Havaldar Ayub Khan, 38, an Attock resident; Sepoy Tayyab Ali, 23, a Haripur resident; Sepoy Mehboob Rehman, 26, a Tank resident; Sepoy Kalim Ullah, 26, a Lakki Marwat resident; Sepoy Junaid, 26, a Shangla resident; and Sepoy Junaid Sawati, 25, a Khyber resident.

Sanitisation operation was conducted in the area and the perpetrators of the act would be brought to justice.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” it said.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan.

Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

Saturday’s attack was “the most dangerous assault in this region this year,” an intelligence official told AFP.

Islamabad accuses Kabul’s rulers of failing to root out militants staging attacks on Pakistan from over the border.

The banned TTP share a common ideology with their Afghan counterparts who surged back to power three years ago.

Also, read this

Seven security personnel martyred in Balochistan’s Kalat: ISPR

Soldier martyred, 15 terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Zhob operation: ISPR

Six security personnel martyred in KP’s Hangu gun battle: ISPR

Kabul’s new rulers have pledged to evict foreign militant groups from Afghan soil.

But a UN Security Council report in July estimated up to 6,500 TTP fighters are based there – and said “the Taliban do not conceive of TTP as a terrorist group”.

The report said the Afghan Taliban show “ad hoc support to, and tolerance of, TTP operations, including the supplying of weapons and permission for training”.

(With input from AFP)