Rawalpindi: Sixteen Pakistani soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces check post in the Makeen area of South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during the night of December 20-21. The attack was swiftly countered by Pakistani troops, with the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stating that eight militants, referred to as “khwarij,” were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire.
A sanitization operation was launched in the area following the attack, with the military vowing to bring the perpetrators 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,” the statement said.
This attack comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with rising militant violence along its western border regions, particularly following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The resurgence of militant groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has led to a significant increase in casualties, with over 1,500 people, including civilians, security forces, and militants, reported killed last year alone.
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An intelligence official described Saturday’s attack as the “most dangerous assault in this region this year.” Pakistan has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of failing to root out militants staging attacks from Afghan territory, despite pledges by Kabul to expel foreign militant groups. A July report by the UN Security Council estimated that up to 6,500 TTP fighters are based in Afghanistan, with the Afghan Taliban showing “ad hoc support” for their operations, including providing weapons and training.
The ongoing violence underscores the complex security situation along Pakistan’s border, with growing concerns over the Taliban’s stance toward the TTP and other militant factions operating in the region.
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