Three Militants Killed, Three Policemen Martyred in Joint Operation in Khyber

PESHAWAR: In a major counterterrorism operation, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, along with the Elite Force and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), killed three militants, including a most-wanted commander, during a joint action in Khyber district. Three security personnel were martyred in the exchange of fire.

According to security sources, the joint operation was carried out in the rugged mountainous areas of Kabal Gram, where the militants were reportedly hiding. All three militants were said to be highly wanted by law enforcement agencies.

Sources stated that one of the slain militants, identified as Noor Islam, described as a key leader of “Fitna al-Khawarij,” had a bounty of Rs5 million on his head. During the operation, one militant blew himself up to avoid arrest, while intense gunfire continued between security forces and the suspects.

In the exchange, three police personnel — Maqbool Ahmed, Fida Hussain, and Saeedur Rehman — embraced martyrdom.

Defense analysts said the presence of militants in Kabal Gram indicated that they were allegedly planning a major terrorist attack. They described the targeted operation as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing counterterrorism strategy, adding that it had effectively weakened the organized network of the militant group.

According to analysts, the group had also been involved in past attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan. They termed the sacrifice of the martyred personnel a shining example of commitment to national security and a reflection of the state’s unwavering resolve against terrorism.