CTD Neutralizes Wanted Terrorist in Dera Ismail Khan Intelligence-Led Raid

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Saturday that a wanted terrorist was eliminated during an intelligence‑based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district.

According to the CTD statement, the deceased, identified as Khalid alias Commander, was sought in several cases, notably the targeted killing of CTD Constable Muhammad Ali, who was martyred on March 17 2025.

The department said its technical team had received confirmed intelligence that Khalid was present in the Korai area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Shorkot police station.

Acting on that information, a CTD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team launched a targeted intelligence‑based operation early Saturday on the Tank‑Dera Ismail Khan Road, the statement noted.

“During the operation, the terrorist was surrounded, repeatedly urged to surrender, and attempts were made to apprehend him. Instead of yielding, he opened indiscriminate fire on the personnel,” the statement said, adding that he was killed when CTD forces returned fire.

The statement added that the slain militant was affiliated with the banned Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan’s Zakir Kochi Karwan faction. It also noted that he had evaded law‑enforcement agencies by disguising his identity, frequently altering his appearance, and moving between locations.

Authorities recovered a 9 mm pistol, a hand grenade, and a smartphone from his possession; these items have been taken into custody for forensic examination.

The CTD said efforts are underway to identify and pursue legal action against his facilitators, financiers, and logistical support network.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced a rise in terrorist attacks over the past year. According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the province recorded a significant surge in violence, with fatalities increasing from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.

This represents an absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for more than 82 percent of the national rise and marking nearly a 44 percent year‑on‑year escalation in violence within the province.

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