PESHAWAR: At least nine militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to by officials as Fitna al-Khawarij, were killed in a three-day targeted operation jointly conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and police, the district police chief of Upper Dir said on Tuesday.
Among those killed was a local commander, Sajidullah, who along with his associates had earlier attacked a police van, officials added.
The operation, which spanned a 20-square-kilometre area of Upper Dir, was supported by personnel of the Rapid Response Force and the Elite Force. During the clashes, two civilians lost their lives while 10 policemen sustained injuries, police confirmed.
Authorities described the action as part of recent successes achieved against militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where incidents of terrorism have seen a sharp increase in recent months.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, while commenting on the security situation, strongly criticised the PTI government in the province, questioning how militants continued to find support and refuge. “From where have these terrorists come? Who has provided them shelter?” he asked, holding Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur responsible for the deteriorating law and order.
The development comes days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a visit to Pakistan, reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Islamabad in safeguarding its territorial integrity and national security, stressing the need to eradicate the breeding grounds of terrorism amid growing regional instability.
