A wanted terrorist was killed during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday. The deceased militant was identified as Khalid, also known as Commander, who was implicated in several criminal cases, notably the targeted killing of CTD Constable Mohammad Ali on March 17, 2025.
The CTD’s technical team had received verified intelligence indicating Khalid’s presence in the Korai area under the jurisdiction of Shorkot police station. Acting swiftly on this information, a CTD Special Weapons and Tactics unit launched an operation early Saturday along the Tank-Dera Ismail Khan Road.
During the operation, the militant was surrounded and repeatedly urged to surrender. Despite efforts to apprehend him peacefully, Khalid opened fire indiscriminately on the CTD personnel. In response, the team returned fire, resulting in his death.
Khalid was linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) Zakir Kochi Karwan faction. The department noted that he had been evading capture by frequently altering his appearance and moving between different locations to avoid detection.
Authorities recovered a 9mm pistol, a hand grenade, and a smartphone from Khalid, which have been seized for forensic analysis. Investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute his facilitators, financiers, and members of his logistical support network.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced a surge in terrorist incidents over the past year. The Centre for Research and Security Studies’ Annual Security Report 2025 highlights a significant increase in fatalities, rising from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, marking a nearly 44 percent year-on-year escalation in violence within the province.
