Security forces killed two high value militants linked to the TTP’s Zarrar group during an intelligence based operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials confirmed on Thursday. The militants, identified as Abubakar and Ghalib, were eliminated on the spot.
Both were wanted for multiple terrorist attacks in the region, including assaults on security personnel and incidents targeting civilians. Officials say the pair had been operating from concealed hideouts across Bannu’s rural belt.
Bannu has recorded the highest number of terrorist incidents in KP’s southern districts, including a targeted attack just a day earlier in which militants martyred a Hafiz e Quran, a former army soldier who had left service two years ago. Two days before that, Assistant Commissioner Miranshah, Shah Wali Khan, was martyred along with two police officials in a roadside attack on the Bannu Miranshah Road, while several other policemen were injured.
Escalating Violence, Intensified Operations
Given the spike in attacks, counterterrorism operations have accelerated across Bannu. Earlier today, security forces also targeted long standing militant hideouts in Mamandkhel and Daud Shah, acting on credible intelligence about the presence of armed elements.
Investigations revealed that militants had turned a veterinary hospital in Mamandkhel and a mosque in Daud Shah into operational bases used for planning, coordination, and logistical support. Security forces cordoned off both localities, carried out search and clearance actions, and remain on high alert. No casualties were reported during these operations.
Several educational institutions in the affected areas temporarily shut down as a precaution. Police and security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Officials say the crackdown in Bannu, Mamandkhel and Daud Shah is part of a wider push to eliminate TTP networks across KP’s southern belt and restore stability in areas that have faced sustained militant pressure. Further updates are expected as operations continue.
