BANNU: Two suspected terrorists were killed during a joint operation carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and local police in the Domel Tehsil of Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The raid was part of an ongoing effort to root out militancy in the region, which has seen a resurgence in terrorist activity in recent months. According to official sources, the operation was launched on intelligence-based information regarding the presence of militants in the area. A fierce gun battle broke out between the suspects and law enforcement personnel, lasting nearly 20 minutes. As a result, two militants were shot dead. The others managed to escape under the cover of darkness and nearby vegetation.
The deceased were identified as Hussain Ahmed and Inam, also known by the aliases “Toru” and “Jihad Yar,” both hailing from Haider Khel in North Waziristan. Both were considered high-value targets. Inam was wanted in five different terrorism-related cases, including attacks on police personnel and CTD units. Hussain Ahmed was also implicated in three major acts of terrorism.
Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, four hand grenades, six magazines, 150 rounds of ammunition, and two mobile phones from the scene. After the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, security forces intensified operations against terrorist outfits, particularly Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
North Waziristan, the hometown of the slain suspects, has long been a hotspot for militant activity. Although several military operations—including Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad—were carried out to eliminate safe havens, isolated incidents of violence have continued, with a recent uptick in attacks targeting police and paramilitary forces.
Officials believe the swift and coordinated action by CTD and Bannu Police prevented a possible large-scale terrorist attack. Authorities have launched a search operation to track down the remaining suspects who escaped during the raid.
The CTD Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Bannu Police reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and eradicating terrorism from the region, emphasising that operations will continue until complete peace is restored.
Read also: CTD kills suicide bomber & handler near Peshawar
