KARAK: Four terrorists were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by police in the Khattak Dam area along the border of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak and Kohat districts, police said on Friday.
According to a statement issued by Karak police, authorities received credible intelligence at around 5am regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. Acting on the information, Karak and Kohat police jointly launched an operation.
The statement said the terrorists opened fire on the police team during the operation, prompting security personnel to respond with effective retaliatory fire.
After an intense exchange of gunfire, four terrorists belonging to the “Commander Zahid Group” were killed. Police said the group had allegedly been involved in the killing of several police officers and other law enforcement personnel.
Police added that the area had been cordoned off and a search operation was underway to gather further information about the identities and criminal backgrounds of the slain terrorists.
Reaffirming its resolve to eliminate terrorism, Karak police said operations against terrorist elements would continue with full force to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the police for carrying out what he described as a successful operation against “India-sponsored terrorists.”
“The KP police have once again foiled the nefarious designs of Indian-sponsored terrorists,” Naqvi said, adding that Pakistan’s security forces remained fully committed to eliminating the threat of terrorism.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies’ Annual Security Report 2025, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a sharp rise in violence last year, with fatalities increasing from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.