The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in a series of intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has neutralized nine Khawarij and arrested 21 suspects, including foreign nationals, officials from the Central Police Office (CPO) confirmed on Thursday.
According to official sources, the coordinated operations were conducted in Karak and Khyber districts as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts linked to high-profile cases, including the Darul Uloom Haqqania attack and an alleged planned suicide attack targeting Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Security officials stated that during intense encounters, nine Khawarij were killed, while 21 individuals were taken into custody. Among those arrested were reportedly Afghan nationals, underscoring the cross-border dimension of terrorist activity in the region.
The Central Police Office confirmed significant progress in ongoing investigations, revealing the dismantling of a sophisticated terror financing and support network. Authorities stated that investigative findings have exposed financial channels, operational hideouts, and target selection patterns used by Khawarij involved in multiple attacks.
Officials further disclosed emerging evidence indicating the use of cryptocurrency-based transactions for financing terrorist activities, reflecting an evolving and technologically adaptive funding mechanism being employed by Khawarij networks.
Security agencies also reported the identification of sleeper cells linked to proscribed organizations, along with networks of foreign fighters operating in coordination with local facilitators. Investigators described these findings as a significant breakthrough in mapping the organizational structure of Khawarij networks operating in the region.
According to the CPO, investigations have also highlighted persistent operational challenges posed by cross-border linkages and difficult terrain, which continue to complicate counterterrorism efforts in remote and mountainous areas.
Officials added that several major incidents, including the Police Lines suicide attack and the Darul Uloom Haqqania blast, have not been officially claimed by any group, while in some cases, claims attributed to proscribed organizations were found to be misleading or inconsistent with investigative evidence.
Security authorities emphasized that CTD-led operations will continue with enhanced intelligence coordination and operational precision aimed at dismantling remaining Khawarij infrastructure, sleeper cells, and financial networks.
