The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has successfully disrupted a planned terrorist attack by apprehending a female suicide bomber in Dera Ismail Khan. This significant breakthrough came after a targeted raid on the Sheikh Yousuf camp, where CTD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams conducted a meticulously planned operation. The suspect, a woman, was taken into custody after admitting to extensive training under the late foreign militant commander Shah Wali, also known as Tariq Kochi.
During the raid, authorities recovered several items from the suspect’s possession, including a commando bag, a pistol, ammunition cartridges, and two mobile phones. These devices were reportedly used to maintain communication with a banned terrorist organization. Interestingly, investigators also found perfume in her bag, which was allegedly intended to mask the scent of gunpowder, a tactic aimed at evading detection by security forces and sniffer dogs.
Further interrogation revealed that the woman had recently consented to carry out a suicide bombing. She disclosed that a foreign terrorist commander named Asim was to provide the specific target for the attack. Following her arrest, the suspect was transferred to a secure, undisclosed location where she remains under close surveillance for further questioning. This development highlights the ongoing threat posed by foreign militants operating within the region and their efforts to recruit local operatives for high-profile attacks.
This successful counter-terrorism operation comes just a day after security forces neutralized five terrorists affiliated with the India-backed group “Fitna al-Khwarij” during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district of KP. The operation, however, came at a cost, as Lieutenant Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah were martyred when their convoy was ambushed by militants. Their sacrifice underscores the persistent dangers faced by security personnel combating terrorism in the region.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a noticeable surge in cross-border terrorist activities, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share porous borders with Afghanistan. These areas have become hotspots for militant infiltration and recruitment, posing significant challenges to Pakistan’s internal security apparatus.
In a recent briefing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry disclosed that law enforcement agencies conducted a staggering 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Pakistan in 2025 alone. Breaking down these figures regionally, KP accounted for 14,658 operations, Balochistan saw 58,778, while the remaining 1,739 were carried out in other parts of the country. The DG ISPR also highlighted that a total of 5,397 terrorist incidents were recorded nationwide last year, with KP bearing the brunt at 3,811 incidents, followed by Balochistan with 1,557, and only 29 incidents reported elsewhere.
These statistics paint a clear picture of the ongoing security challenges in Pakistan’s western provinces and emphasize the critical role played by agencies like the CTD in safeguarding the country from extremist threats. The recent arrest of the female suicide bomber in Dera Ismail Khan is a testament to the vigilance and operational capability of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism forces in preempting attacks and dismantling terror networks before they can execute their plans.
