Nine TTP militants killed in KP counterterror operation

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Police and counterterrorism forces killed nine militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a three-day operation in the northwestern Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said Tuesday.

The operation, conducted jointly by the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), targeted TTP elements in areas under the jurisdiction of the Dir City Police Station, following credible intelligence about their presence, according to a statement from Upper Dir District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Bilal.

“Nine terrorists were killed in the operation that has been going on for three days, and the bodies of five were recovered,” DPO Bilal said. He added that 10 police personnel were injured in exchanges of fire with the militants, and two civilians lost their lives.

The operation was part of intensified efforts to curb a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan, particularly in KP and Balochistan provinces, since the TTP ended a fragile ceasefire with the government in November 2022. The outlawed group, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the police and CTD for their efforts. “CTD and police officers and personnel are working day and night to protect our beloved homeland from the evil intentions of the Khawarij,” Sharif said, according to a statement from his office. “The entire nation, including myself, is proud of our brave officers and personnel.”

The government frequently refers to TTP militants as “Khawarij,” a term meaning “outcasts,” following a July 2024 directive to designate the group as Fitna-al-Khawarij.

The operation follows a weekend of violent clashes in Upper Dir and neighboring Lower Dir districts. On Sunday night, fierce fighting in Upper Dir’s Dobando area left five suspected TTP militants dead and seven policemen injured, officials told local media. Two civilians from Hatnar Dara caught in the crossfire were also killed.

DPO Bilal vowed to continue the operation until the “complete elimination of Fitna-al-Khawarij.” “Dir Police is always ready to eliminate terrorism and protect the lives and property of the people, and is determined to make every kind of sacrifice,” he said.