Five terrorists were neutralized during an intelligence-based operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Attock district’s Jand tehsil, according to official sources.
The operation was carried out in Mankor village after security personnel received intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. During the action, security forces encountered resistance, triggering an intense exchange of fire.
Sources said all five terrorists were eliminated during the gunbattle. No casualties among security personnel were immediately reported.
Following the operation, authorities recovered a cache of weapons and explosives from the possession of the neutralized terrorists. The recovered material included suicide jackets, two hand grenades, three submachine guns, a large quantity of ammunition and explosive substances.
Security officials believe the recovered equipment indicates the terrorists may have been planning future attacks. The seized material has been taken into custody for forensic examination and further investigation.
The operation forms part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and preventing attacks against civilians and security installations. Authorities said intelligence-based actions would continue to target terrorist hideouts, facilitators and support structures wherever credible information is received.
The development is particularly significant as Mankor village was also the scene of a terrorist incident earlier this year that highlighted the threat posed by suicide bombers operating in the region.
On May 11, a local resident embraced martyrdom after intercepting a suicide bomber near the Mankor Check Post, preventing what officials and residents described as a potentially devastating terrorist attack. According to local sources, the villager confronted the attacker after noticing suspicious activity near the check post and surrounding populated areas. The suicide bomber detonated himself during the confrontation, resulting in the villager’s martyrdom but preventing the attacker from reaching his intended target.
Residents at the time hailed the slain villager’s courage, saying his sacrifice likely saved numerous innocent lives and underscored the role local communities continue to play in resisting terrorism.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities or affiliations of the five neutralized terrorists. Further investigation is underway to determine whether the group was linked to any previous terrorist activities in the region.
Security officials reiterated their commitment to eliminating terrorist threats and maintaining pressure on extremist networks seeking to destabilize the area.
