Four terrorists killed, one police officer martyred in separate IBO’s in K-P | The Express Tribune

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

One police officer was martyred and four terrorists, including two highly wanted commanders, were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, officials confirmed on Monday.

In one operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, “After intense exchange of fire, two khwarij, belonging to Indian sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, including Kharji Ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar, along with a suicide bomber were sent to hell.” A suicide jacket, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the deceased terrorists.

The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The ISPR said that the terrorist ring leader Waheedullah was “amongst the most wanted terrorists” due to his involvement in multiple terrorist activities, including attacks that led to the “shahadat of security forces personnel and innocent civilians”.

According to the statement, he was also the main handler of a suicide bomber in Bannu District on February 21, 2026, an attack in which Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz was martyred.

On February 22, 2026, during an intelligence-based operation against terrorists, including a suicide bomber, a security forces convoy was “targeted by Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij”. The ISPR said the vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted, and the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security forces’ vehicle. As a result, Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz (43) from Mansehra, who was leading from the front, and Sepoy Karamat Shah (28) from Peshawar, embraced martyrdom.

The ISPR said the operation had “indeed avenged the heinous act and brought the main perpetrator to justice”, adding that the “timely action of security forces also averted a major catastrophe”.

The ISPR said that a sanitisation operation is being conducted in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists. It added that Pakistan’s “relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have commended security forces for a successful intelligence-based operation against Fitna Al Khwarij in Bannu, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reports.

In their statements, they said the killing of Khawarij ring leader and the suicide attacker reflects the professional skills and bravery of the security forces:

President Zardari said at a time when Pakistan is dedicating all its efforts to regional and global peace, our enemies seek to undermine these efforts through terrorism. He said we will thwart these anti-peace and anti-Islam conspiracies. The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of terrorism.

PM Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to wipe out terrorism from the country.

Lakki Marwat

In a separate operation by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), two terrorists were killed, including a highly wanted commander, and a police constable was martyred in the Akhundan forest civil camp area near the Bannu border, a CTD spokesperson said on Monday.

Read: Afridi awaits Imran’s signal for Islamabad move

The spokesperson said in a statement that Lakki police conducted a successful intelligence-based targeted operation in the border area adjoining Bannu district, where there was a heavy exchange of fire with terrorists linked to “Fitna al-Khawarij”.

According to the statement, two militants were killed, and several others were injured. Taking advantage of darkness and the forest terrain, the terrorists managed to escape with their wounded companions.

During the operation, police constable Atiqur Rehman (FRP) embraced martyrdom “while displaying exceptional courage and sacrifice for the country,” the statement said.

Among those killed was a highly wanted commander, Amir Sohail alias Aqabi, also known as Omar Khattab, son of Muhammad Zaman alias Guloon, resident of Kotka Shah Muhammad, Lakki Marwat. He was wanted by the CTD in multiple cases, including targeted killings, attacks on police and security forces, bomb blasts, and other serious offences.

The spokesperson said a large-scale search operation involving police, CTD, and armoured vehicles is ongoing in the area. He added that Lakki Marwat police are playing a frontline role in the fight against terrorism and remain committed to eliminating militancy, while all available resources are being used to maintain peace and order in the district.

K-P has been battling terrorism since the United States’ ouster from Afghanistan, with terrorists often crossing the border to target police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of several officials and personnel.

On Sunday, two Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were martyred after unidentified motorcycle-riding terrorists opened fire on them in Bannu. According to police sources, the FC personnel were shopping in a local market when attackers suddenly opened fire on them. The assailants fled the scene after the shooting.

The province has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, accounting for the highest number of incidents in the country. Out of a total of 5,397 reported incidents last year, K-P recorded 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported from the rest of the country. A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year.