Four terrorists killed in Karak-Kohat joint police operation

Four terrorists were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by the Karak and Kohat police in the Khattak Dam area along the Karak-Kohat border, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police said on Friday.

According to a statement, the operation was launched at around 5am after police received credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area.

During the operation, the terrorists opened fire on the police party, prompting an effective retaliatory response in which four terrorists belonging to the Commander Zahid group were killed.

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It added that the group was involved in the killings of Station House Officer Banda Umar Nawaz in Karak district and Inspector Tahir Nawaz in Kohat district in 2025, as well as Deputy Superintendent of Police Asad Mehmood, Sub-Inspector Anar Gul and other police officers and personnel in 2026.

The statement said police had cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, while efforts were under way to establish the identities of the slain terrorists and gather further details about their criminal records.

It added that the Karak district police officer and Kohat Superintendent of Police Saddar Ehsan Shah reached the scene soon after being informed of the operation and were supervising the search operation.

The K-P police reaffirmed their resolve to eliminate terrorism and ensure lasting peace in the region, saying operations against militant elements would continue with full force.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the force for its success.

"The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has once again thwarted the nefarious designs of Indian-sponsored terrorists. I salute the police for the successful intelligence operation. The forces are determined to uproot and eradicate the scourge of terrorism from its roots."

K-P has been battling terrorism since the United States' ouster from Afghanistan, with terrorists often crossing the border to target police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of several officials and personnel.

The province has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, accounting for the highest number of incidents in the country. Out of a total of 5,397 reported incidents last year, K-P recorded 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported from the rest of the country. A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year.

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, in a report, said that 85 verified terrorist attacks were recorded in April, down from 146 in March, marking a 42% decline, while fatalities from such attacks fell from 106 to 60, extending a downward trajectory that had begun in the previous month.

The report attributed the improvement to Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against terrorist groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which later gave way to a suspension of hostilities and talks in Urumqi, China.