The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces on Saturday killed four terrorists — allegedly belonging to the militant Islamic State group — in a mountainous area near the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan.

According to a CTD press release, the terrorists from the group’s Khorasan chapter (IS-K) were killed in retaliatory fire by a team conducting an intelligence-based joint operation upon receiving a tip-off that the terrorists were crossing the border.

The CTD stated that two hand grenades, two Kalashnikov rifles, six magazine storages, two pistols and dozens of cartridges along with Pakistani currency, identification documents and other valuables were recovered from the terrorists.

Among the slain terrorists were the IS-K’s local commander Mohammad Dawood Yaqoob, Abdullah Khan and Mohammad Laiq Piauddin. A fourth terrorist could not be identified.

The militants, the CTD said, were wanted for being involved in several targeted killings, bomb blasts and attacks on security forces.

It also mentioned that two of the terrorists managed to cross the border and escaped.

The operation

The CTD of the Bannu region in KP received an alert last night that a formation of IS-K terrorists had planned to cross the Pak-Afghan border with the intention of causing terrorist activities.

The CTD statement added that upon confirmation, its special team and security forces launched a security operation in the mountainous area of Dardoni in North Waziristan near the Pak-Afghan border and surrounded the area.

When six suspicious armed men attempted to cross the border to enter Pakistan’s territory, a clash took place between the IS-K terrorists and the security forces. The terrorists opened fire, to which the CTD and security forces responded.

The CTD stated that an hour after the exchange of fire, a search and clearance operation was conducted in which four terrorists were found to be dead.

The operation team did not suffer any loss of life, the press release added.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...