SOUTH WAZIRISTAN / BAJAUR: Sixteen security personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack on a check post in tehsil Makin of South Waziristan Upper on Saturday, the military`s media wing said.

According to the InterServices Public Relations, a group of terrorists attempted to attack a security forces` check post in the general area Makin between the night of December 20 and 21.

`The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fireexchange, eight khwarij were sent to hell. However, during intense fire exchange, sixteen brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly embraced Shahadat,` it said.Sanitisation operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of the heinous act will be brought to justice, the ISPR said, adding that security forces are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism andsuch sacrifices of `our brave men further strengthen our resolve`.

In July, the government, designated the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as Fitna al Khwarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term Khariji when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistan.

Other security sources said that the attackers used heavy weapons. The banned TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had retaliated the killing of `several important commanders of our organisation in recent security forces operations`.Separately, police and security forces defused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in Wana`s Rustam Bazaar, South Waziristan Lower district, on Saturday.

According to police sources, the IED was placed outside a washroom near a water tank under the cover ofdarkness.

However, security forces and police arrived at the scene in time and safely neutralised the device, preventing a potential disaster. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to identify those responsible for planting the bomb.

Attack thwarted Tribesmen thwarted an attack on a police post by armed militants in tehsil Salarzai of Bajaur district in the early hours of Saturday morning. Two locals were injured in the clash, while one attacker was detained.

Locals told Dawn thatshortly after the unidentified militants attacked a police post in the Dangool area at around 2am, a large group of armed residents from nearby localities, led by tribal leader and chief of the Salarzai tribe, Shahabuddin Khan, who is also a senior leader of PML-N, swiftly arrived at the scene to confront the attackers.

According to residents, when elders and youthsreached the site, they first encircled the attackers from multiple directions before launching a `massive action` against the militants who had targeted the police post.

They said the unprecedented action by the residents forced the attackers to retreat without further firing on the post. The locals captured one of the militants, who, along with his companions, was attempting to escape the area.

According to the locals, two residents, Malik Abdur Raheem and his son Abid Khan, were wounded in the exchangeof fire with the militants.

The arrested militant was later handed over to law enforcement authorities. A senior police official confirmed the attack and said all policemen stationed at the post remained safe.

He said an investigation had been launched to determine the identity of the attackers and their motives.

Meanwhile, locals have lauded the residents of Salarzai, and Shahabuddin Khan in particular, for their bravery and courage in confronting the militants.of fire with the militants.

The arrested militant was later handed over to law enforcement authorities. A senior police official confirmed the attack and said all policemen stationed at the post remained safe.

He said an investigation had been launched to determine the identity of the attackers and their motives.

Meanwhile, locals have lauded the residents of Salarzai, and Shahabuddin Khan in particular, for their bravery and courage in confronting the militants.