RAWALPINDI: At least eight terrorists were killed and sixteen Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on security forces check post in the Makeen area of South Waziristan district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“On the night between December 20-21, a group of terrorists attempted to attack security forces check post in general area Makeen in the tribal district,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing said in a statement on Saturday.
“The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, eight khwarij (terrorists) were sent to hell,” ISPR said.
“However, during intense fire exchange, sixteen brave sons of the soil, having fought gallantly embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” ISPR stated.
The martyred soldiers were identified as
- Sepoy Ehsan-ul-Haq, aged 22, hailed from Lower Dir district and served for four years.
- Sepoy Faiz Muhammad, aged 22, from Mansehra district, gave four years of service.
- Sepoy Tayyab Ali, aged 23, from Haripur district, joined the Army a year ago and left behind grieving parents.
- Lance Naik Liaqat Ali, aged 30, hailed from Kurram district and served the Pakistan Army for 11 years.
- Lance Naik Muhammad Ishaq, aged 31, belonged to Karak district and rendered nine years of service.
- Havaldar Ayub Khan, aged 38, from Attock district, dedicated 15 years to the Pakistan Army.
- Havaldar Umar Hayat, aged 40, hailed from Kohat district and served for 17 years.
- Sepoy Mehboob Rehman, aged 26, from Tank district, gave eight years of service.
- Havaldar Muhammad Hayat, aged 37, belonged to Bannu district and served for 17 years.
- Lance Naik Sher Muhammad, aged 26, from Malakand district, rendered seven years of service.
- Sepoy Junaid, aged 25, belonged to Khyber district and dedicated three years to the Army.
- Lance Naik Hamid Ali, aged 29, from Swabi district, served for eight years.
- Sepoy Kaleem Ullah, aged 26, hailed from Lakki Marwat district and served for three years.
- Havaldar Tahir Mehmood, aged 41, from Kohat district, served for 18 years.
- Lance Naik Masoor Shaheen, aged 29, hailed from Kohat district and served for seven years.
- Sepoy Junaid, aged 26, from Shangla district, served for four years and is survived by his parents and wife.
- The military’s media wing said a sanitisation operation was launched in the area and the perpetrators of the heinous act will be brought to justice.
“Pakistan’s security forces are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” ISPR maintained.
Yesterday, four Khwarij were killed as security forces thwarted an infiltration bid by a group of Fitna al Khwarij at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Earlier on Friday, security forces killed the most wanted leader of proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and seven other terrorists in a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank District.
Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of terrorist violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces and terrorists killed, according to the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies.
Pakistan has repeatedly provided credible evidence to the Afghan interim government regarding TTP involvement involved in cross-border attacks, but no action has been taken so far.
The ISPR in a statement said that Pakistan has been continuously demanding effective border management from the Afghan interim government.
It is expected that the interim Afghan government will fulfill its responsibilities and will not allow the Khawarij to use its land for terrorism against Pakistan.
A UN Security Council report in July, however, stated that the Afghan Taliban show “ad hoc support to, and tolerance of, TTP operations, including the supplying of weapons and permission for training”.
