Four individuals, including a commander of the Junood-ul-Khyber group, were shot dead in a targeted attack in the Babuzai area of Katlang tehsil, Mardan district. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khawarij has claimed responsibility for the incident. Before that security forces eliminated a key commander of the TTP in Katlang area.
According to official sources, the gunfire erupted when Commander Zubair Afridi, along with his companions, was en route to an undisclosed location. The deceased have been identified as Zubair Afridi of Tirah Valley, Asad, an unidentified man, and Hamad Babuzai. Security force also conducted operation in the same area a few months and eliminated Khawarij.
Significantly, Hamad Babuzai belonged to a respected local family known for its open opposition to the Khawarij ideology and for siding with Pakistan’s security forces in the fight against extremism. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, and intelligence-led surveillance operations are underway to gather further details and trace any remaining culprits.
The targeted killing is being seen as part of the TTP Khawarij’s ongoing campaign to eliminate dissenting voices and terrorize communities that actively support state efforts to counter militancy across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
