Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed has said that terrorists operating in the southern districts of the province are using advanced weapons and technology left behind by NATO forces in Afghanistan, posing a serious security challenge for law enforcement agencies.
Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, the IGP said terrorist groups active in the region have access to sophisticated weaponry, explosives and communication equipment, which are being used against police and other security institutions.
Providing details of recent counterterrorism efforts, Zulfiqar Hameed said police conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Matta area of Swat, eliminating five terrorists. He added that a police personnel embraced martyrdom during the operation while fighting the terrorists.
The IGP said security institutions had prior information regarding the movement of terrorist groups entering Swat and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that these groups also include Afghan terrorists, and timely action was taken after receiving intelligence about their presence and movement.
Talking about the recent suicide attack in Tank, the provincial police chief described it as a highly organized and dangerous terrorist attack. He said initial investigations suggest that approximately 1,200 to 1,400 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.
He further stated that all four suicide attackers involved in the Tank attack were Afghan nationals, adding that so far investigations have found no evidence linking any of them to Pakistan.
The IGP also highlighted similarities between the Tank suicide bombing and the attack on a school in Dera Ismail Khan, saying both incidents showed a similar modus operandi, indicating that they may have been planned through the same pattern.
He said terrorist groups continue attempts to enhance their operational capabilities by acquiring modern weapons and technology, including equipment that was left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces. According to him, such weapons are now being used in terrorist activities in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Zulfiqar Hameed reiterated that police and other law enforcement agencies are conducting coordinated operations against terrorist networks. He said intelligence-based operations would be further strengthened to eliminate terrorist threats and ensure peace and stability across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
