Security forces eliminated three terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Bhittani group during an intelligence-based operation in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security sources said.
The operation was launched after confirmed intelligence indicated that terrorists were present in the Gurrah Faqira area along Jandola Road, within the jurisdiction of S.M.A. Police Station, and were planning a major terrorist attack.
Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and district police reached the identified location, where the terrorists opened fire on the approaching personnel. Security forces responded, triggering an exchange of fire that continued for some time.
After the firing stopped, a search operation was conducted in the area, during which three terrorists were found eliminated. Two were identified as Osama, son of Sultan, and Sulaiman, son of Wali Muhammad, both residents of Faqir Kalay, Jandola. The identity of the third terrorist is being established.
Preliminary information indicates that the eliminated terrorists had been involved in several terrorist activities in the past, including improvised explosive device (IED) attacks targeting police personnel and other locations.
The terrorists had reportedly planted an IED on the roof of a shop near Meer Alam Pump. The resulting explosion claimed the lives of two police personnel and a civilian, while seven other people were injured.
They had also planted an IED along the main road in Wana Bazaar and another on the roof of the office of Bilal, head of a local peace committee.
Osama was the brother of Shoaib, a terrorist who was eliminated while attacking Bannu Cantonment in 2025. Musa, another terrorist who was eliminated in retaliatory fire after attacking police in Wana Bazaar, was Osama’s cousin.
During the search operation, security personnel recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, 11 magazines along with ammunition, and a mobile phone from the possession of the eliminated terrorists.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and the Additional Inspector General of the Counter-Terrorism Department commended the personnel involved in the operation for their professionalism, courage, and bravery.
They reaffirmed that effective CTD and police operations would continue without interruption to eliminate terrorism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
