KHYBER/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Four militants, including a commander, were killed by the security forces and the Counter-Terrorism Department in operations in Khyber and Dera Ismail Khan districts, Inter Services Public Relations and the police said on Tuesday.

Three militants were eliminated by the security forces during a gun battle in Tirah valley of Khyber district on Monday night.

A statement issued by the ISPR said that the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area of Tirah upon information about presence of some terrorists there.

It said that during the operation, an intense exchange of firing took place between the security forces and terrorists, during which three terrorists were killed.

The statement identified one of the militants as Kifayat alias Tor Adnan, who was actively involved in a number of terrorist activities against the law enforcement agencies and also in killing some civilians.

“Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area,” the ISPR statement said.

Meanwhile, a militant commander was killed in a joint operation by the police and CTD officials in Kirri Maling area of Kulachi tehsil of Dera on Tuesday.

In a press release issued by CTD, the killed militant, Samiullah, was wanted in several terrorism cases.

It said that another militant commander, Karamat, managed to escape along with other accomplices during the operation.

The CTD said that the killed militant was involved in the target killing of a constable, Nazar in recent days. The press release said that a search operation had been launched in the area to trace the fleeing militants.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan announced certificates of appreciation for the members of the raiding team.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023