“‘The blood of our martyrs will not be wasted; we will overcome the enemies of peace,’ says IGP Zulfiqar Hameed.
At least six terrorists were killed after they opened fire on a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) team during an intelligence-led operation in the Shagayi area of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The CTD reported that the terrorists began shooting upon spotting the police team, prompting a retaliatory exchange that lasted approximately 40 minutes.
During a follow-up search operation, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) confirmed that six terrorists were found dead, with the process of identifying the deceased currently underway.
Authorities recovered four Kalashnikov rifles, two pistols, eight hand grenades, and an improvised explosive device (IED) from the slain militants.
Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Zulfiqar Hameed, along with the Additional Inspector General of CTD, praised the police team for their efforts.
“We will pursue the terrorists to their hideouts and bring them to justice,” IGP Hameed said. “The blood of the martyrs will not go in vain; we will defeat the enemies of peace.”
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a rise in cross-border terrorist activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.
In response, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, during which more than 650 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed in strikes along the border and within Afghanistan.
According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, over 855 Afghan Taliban fighters have been injured, 243 checkposts destroyed, 42 militants captured, and 219 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns neutralized.
Prior to this operation, Pakistan also targeted seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), its affiliates, and Daesh-Khorasan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following recent suicide attacks. Airstrikes in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces reportedly killed more than 80 militants.
In October 2025, both countries were engaged in border clashes after unprovoked attacks on Pakistan’s posts by the Afghan Taliban and allied militants. These clashes resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred defending the country.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, no lasting agreement was reached, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s unwillingness to take action against terrorist outfits operating along the border.
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