16 soldiers martyred in South Waziristan gunbattle: ISPR

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

“The attempt was effectively foiled by our troops and in the ensuing exchange of fire, eight Khawarij 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, a 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.

A clean-up operation was conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this act will be brought to justice.

Pakistan’s security forces are determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices by our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border areas since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.