By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Nine terrorists were killed and three security officers injured in a fierce gunbattle in the Zargari Shinawari area of Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police officials said on Saturday, marking another deadly confrontation in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against militancy.
The operation, a joint effort by security forces and local police, targeted militants in a volatile region that has seen a surge in terrorist activities since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
The clash highlights the persistent threat posed by extremist groups in Pakistan’s northwestern provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, where violence has escalated since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said the operation began early Saturday when security forces engaged militants in a heavy exchange of fire. “During the operation, there was a heavy exchange of fire between the terrorists and the law enforcement personnel,” Hameed said in a statement read. “Security forces fought bravely and killed five terrorists.”
The operation later resulted in the deaths of four additional terrorists, bringing the total to nine, according to a subsequent statement by Kohat Regional Police Officer DIG Abbas Majeed. “Nine terrorists killed in Hangu operation,” the statement confirmed, adding that the operation was “continuing successfully and full action is being taken against the terrorists.”
District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Khalid, who led the operation, was among the injured, sustaining three gunshot wounds. He was initially treated at Kohat Combined Military Hospital before being transferred to Peshawar for further medical care. The Doaba station house officer (SHO), Nabi Khan, and another security forces officer were also wounded in the clash.
IGP Hameed, who spoke to the injured officers, said DPO Khalid’s condition was stable. “I’ve spoken to him, and his spirits remain high,” Hameed told reporters. “Law enforcement agencies are determined to continue their fight against terrorism.”
The violence reflects a broader spike in militant activity particularly in KP and Balochistan. A May security assessment by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reported 85 militant attacks across the country, a 5 percent increase from April’s 81 incidents. These attacks resulted in 113 fatalities, including 52 security personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four members of peace committees.
Additionally, 182 individuals were injured, with civilian injuries surging by 145 percent to 130 from 53 in April. The report also noted a 73 percent increase in deaths among security personnel, underscoring the heightened risks faced by Pakistan’s armed forces. In contrast, injuries among security personnel dropped by 20 percent, from 59 in April to 47 in May.
Security operations during the month killed at least 59 militants, though five security personnel lost their lives, contributing to a total casualty toll of 172 for May, including 57 security personnel, 65 militants, 46 civilians, and four peace committee members. The uptick in violence has been particularly pronounced since the TTP’s ceasefire collapse, with the group exploiting regional instability following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover in Afghanistan.
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