In a significant success for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts, security forces eliminated four terrorists in two separate operations conducted in Bannu and Malakand districts, officials confirmed on Thursday. The intelligence-driven operations are part of an intensified campaign to suppress militancy resurging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan.
In Bannu district, a late-night intelligence-based operation on Wednesday led to the deaths of three terrorists affiliated with outlawed militant groups. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan dispatched a team comprising local police and elite Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) commandos to Miryan, a rural area known for militant hideouts.
Upon arrival, security personnel encountered armed resistance from the suspects, triggering a fierce gunfight. The operation, led by District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kulachi, resulted in the neutralization of all three militants. They were identified as Mudassir alias Mudassiri, Turab alias Umar Khitab alias Malang, and Mohammad Hussain alias Maaz. All were on the most-wanted list for their involvement in a string of targeted attacks on law enforcement.
Police stated the trio had played a key role in multiple attacks, including the killings of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Asghar and constables Kamran, Nusrat, and Sikandar. They were also linked to assaults on police stations in the cantonment, city, and Miryakhel areas of Bannu.
Authorities recovered assault weapons, pistols, ammunition, and an improvised explosive device (IED) from the scene. The recovered items and bodies were transported to a local hospital for further investigation.
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed commended the efforts of Bannu police and the CTD, pledging that similar operations would continue until terrorism was eradicated from the region.
In a separate operation in Dargai tehsil of Malakand district, CTD personnel engaged a group of militants on Thursday, killing one and arresting another. The operation was prompted by credible reports that a 30-member terrorist cell, reportedly originating from Afghanistan and led by commander Mufti Tahir, was planning to infiltrate Mardan district via the Musa Meena Mehrdi area.
Security forces intercepted the group, resulting in a four-and-a-half-hour standoff from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. During the gunfight, an Afghan national identified as Saadullah was killed, while another, Syed Habib, was captured with injuries. Three bystanders—Ismail, Jamra Ali, and Ehtesham from Nowshera—were injured in the crossfire and taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Batkhela.
CTD officials seized a significant cache of weapons, including a rocket launcher, four rocket rounds, 16 hand grenades, multiple mobile phones, and both local and foreign currency. Authorities believe this cell was planning large-scale attacks and that the swift interception likely prevented significant casualties.
In addition, a “search and strike” operation was conducted in the Kurram Par region of Lakki Marwat. Under the supervision of DSP Zafrullah Khan, police and Elite Force units conducted snap checks and raids aimed at dismantling criminal gangs and insurgent hideouts near the Karak and Mianwali borders. According to DPO Nazir Khan, the operation has significantly curtailed illegal activities and bolstered regional security.
Amid these security efforts, tribal elders from Domel tehsil in Bannu met with RPO Sajjad Khan to express concerns over rising insecurity in their communities. They urged law enforcement to prioritize law and order, enhance local policing, and strengthen collaboration with residents to maintain peace and prevent extremist elements from regaining ground.
RPO Khan acknowledged their concerns, stating that trust and cooperation between police and the public are crucial to building lasting peace in the province. He assured the elders that proactive steps were being taken to safeguard the lives and property of citizens in all vulnerable regions.
These latest developments come amid a wider resurgence of militancy in Pakistan’s northwestern belt, where attacks on security forces and civilians have seen a troubling uptick since the collapse of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ceasefire in 2022. Analysts say that cross-border terrorism, particularly infiltration from Afghanistan, remains a persistent threat despite repeated calls by Islamabad for greater border control cooperation with Kabul.
As operations intensify, authorities stress the need for a united front—combining intelligence, law enforcement, and public support—to thwart extremist threats and restore long-term stability across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
