Five militants were killed during a joint CTD and police intelligence-based operation in Bannu, while security officials recovered weapons and launched investigations into the militants’ identities and network.
Five militants were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in Bannu on Thursday evening, officials said. The operation took place near Gul Bahar Chowk within the jurisdiction of Haveed Police Station after intelligence reports indicated the presence of suspected militants in the area.
According to the CTD, the suspects opened indiscriminate fire after spotting security personnel, triggering a gun battle that lasted about 40 minutes. Local police had initially reported that the exchange of fire continued for several hours before the operation concluded.
The CTD confirmed that five militants were killed, while several others escaped the scene. Earlier, Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Furqan Bilal had stated that four militants had been killed. He later confirmed that no CTD or police personnel were injured during the operation.
Officials said the identification and criminal profiling of the slain militants are in progress, with their identities to be released after verification. Security forces recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, 10 magazines, five bandoliers, two hand grenades and ammunition from the site.
A search and clearance operation was launched to track the fleeing suspects and was later completed, according to police. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed commended the CTD and local police for the successful operation. He said law enforcement agencies would continue operations against the facilitators and networks of Fitna al-Khawarij, the official term used by the Pakistani government for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and vowed to pursue militants until terrorism is eliminated.
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