PESHAWAR (MNN); At least six terrorists were killed and several others wounded on Friday during a violent clash involving police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) commandos and armed local volunteers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwaās Lakki Marwat district.
According to a police statement, the attackers, armed with sniper rifles and quadcopters, launched an assault on law enforcement personnel in a rural area bordering Bannu district, falling under the jurisdiction of Shaheed Asmatullah Khan Khattak police station in Serai Naurang.
The assault triggered a heavy exchange of fire after police and CTD personnel responded forcefully. Officials said the terrorists also targeted villagersā houses using explosive-laden quadcopters, resulting in civilian injuries.
While the official statement did not specify casualties among police personnel, it confirmed that six terrorists were killed during the confrontation and several of their accomplices sustained injuries. The statement added that most of the casualties occurred due to explosives dropped by quadcopters.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Habibullah Wazir, who visited the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Serai Naurang, told reporters that at least ten injured individuals had been brought to the facility so far. He said some of the injured were shifted to hospitals in Bannu due to the severity of their condition, while others were stable.
The district administration declared an emergency at the THQ Hospital, calling in all doctors and paramedical staff. Wazir said adequate medicines were available and standard medical treatment was being provided to the injured.
Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ishaq also confirmed that ten injured persons had been received, adding that three critically wounded individuals were referred to Bannu for advanced treatment.
Security was tightened across the affected rural area on the directives of Regional Police Officer Bannu Sajjad Khan. According to police, a large contingent of police personnel, supported by CTD teams and peace committee volunteers, is participating in the ongoing operation under the supervision of the RPO and Lakki Marwat District Police Officer Nazir Khan.
Law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area, while search and clearance operations are continuing to eliminate remaining militants. Additional forces have also been placed on high alert to deal with any further threat.
Police officials said operations against Fitna al Khawarij militants ā the term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ā would continue until lasting peace is restored and the safety of residents is ensured.
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed praised the police and CTD for their successful action, saying such operations would be further intensified to protect public lives and maintain regional stability.
A day earlier, a terrorist commander was also killed in an exchange of fire with police and CTD personnel in the Wanda Amir area of Lakki Marwat. On the same day, two wanted suspects, including one sought by Punjab police, were arrested during a targeted operation in the district.
Earlier this week, security forces and police destroyed multiple terrorist hideouts during an operation in the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the collapse of the ceasefire between the government and the banned TTP in 2022.
