UPPER DIR: Two volunteers of a local peace lashkar were killed during an exchange of fire with suspected terrorists in the Dobando area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, officials and local sources said on Wednesday.
The clash occurred late Tuesday night in the Sangar area of Dobando Darra, where local lashkar volunteers were reportedly conducting an operation against suspected terrorists under the leadership of local elder Malik Dilawar Khan.
Sources said that Wali Rahman, son of Abdul Rahman and a resident of Sangar, was killed on the spot during the firefight, while Khan Lali, son of Asif Khan and a resident of Shahi Bagh, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Meanwhile, armed terrorists allegedly opened fire on the houses of peace committee members in Bagh Kali of Hatan Darra. Local volunteers returned fire and repulsed the attack, said the residents.
Local sources said intermittent firing continued in the area on Wednesday, creating panic among residents.
They claimed that more than 10 suspected terrorists had been surrounded in the Charagah Banda area by peace committee volunteers, adding that there were reports of casualties among the terrorists. However, no official confirmation of casualties was immediately available.
Residents said volunteers have taken defensive positions to protect the area and described the security situation as tense. Local elders called upon the authorities to provide adequate support and security arrangements for the peace committee members engaged in safeguarding the area.
The remote border region of Upper Dir has witnessed a number of terrorist-related incidents in recent years.
In August this year, security forces and local volunteers engaged suspected terrorist in the Dobando area, while residents formed a lashkar to support efforts aimed at preventing militant movement in the region. Similar clashes were also reported in the Barawal and Dobando areas in 2025, highlighting persistent security challenges in the mountainous border belt.
No official statement from the district administration, police or security authorities was available till the filing of this report.
Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
