CTD Kills 6 Terrorists in Lakki Marwat Operation

PESHAWAR: In an operation carried out in the Shagai area of Lakki Marwat under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed six terrorists on Friday. The team from the Gambila police station encountered these individuals as they reported the presence of militants.

As the law enforcers approached, the terrorists opened fire in an attempt to evade capture. In response, the CTD returned with gunfire that continued for about 40 minutes. Following this engagement, six dead bodies were discovered during a thorough search operation.

The press release stated that identifying the slain terrorists was underway; once their identities are confirmed, legal action will be taken against their facilitators and associates. Additionally, weapons seized from the terrorist included four Kalashnikovs with magazines and ammunition, two 9mm pistols, eight hand grenades, and an improvised explosive device.

This operation came on the heels of a deadly attack that claimed seven lives, including one officer, in another incident involving a police vehicle in the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat. In a broader context, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced a notable increase in terrorist activities over the past year.

According to an Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), violence surged significantly last year with “fatalities rising from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025,” marking an “absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for nearly 82 per cent of the overall rise. This marks a year-on-year surge of almost 44 percent in violence within the province.”

Less than two weeks prior to this operation, three Federal Constabulary personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack near Karak. Such events underscore Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s ongoing security challenges, prompting calls for intensified counter-terrorism efforts.

In light of these recent incidents, authorities have emphasized the need for vigilance and continued collaboration among various law enforcement agencies to mitigate such threats effectively.