In a significant development in the ongoing fight against terrorism, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) along with local police forces successfully neutralized six terrorists during a joint operation conducted in the Lachi area of Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Sunday. District Police Officer Shehbaz Elahi confirmed the operation’s success, emphasizing the recovery of weapons from the militants who were killed during the encounter.
The security forces have cordoned off the entire operation zone as search efforts continue to ensure no other militants remain hidden in the area. This operation is part of a broader crackdown on terrorist elements following a recent surge in violent incidents across the province. Law enforcement agencies have been intensifying their counter-terrorism measures to restore peace and stability in the region.
It is important to note that this operation followed an intelligence-driven raid carried out by the CTD just a day earlier in the same district, which also resulted in the elimination of six suspected militants. These actions come in response to a deadly attack that occurred on Friday near a police vehicle in the Bettani tribal area of Lakki Marwat, where at least seven police personnel lost their lives in a blast. Such attacks have heightened the urgency for decisive security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The province, sharing a porous border with Afghanistan, has witnessed an uptick in cross-border terrorist activities since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. This resurgence has posed significant challenges for Pakistan’s security apparatus, prompting the launch of “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating along the border and within Afghan territory.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the operation has been effective in inflicting heavy losses on Afghan Taliban fighters, with at least 663 militants killed and over 887 injured. Additionally, 249 enemy checkposts have been destroyed, 44 militants captured, and a considerable number of enemy tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces—totaling 224—have been eliminated. Airstrikes targeting 70 terrorist locations and support infrastructure inside Afghanistan have also been carried out with precision.
Prior to these recent operations, Pakistan had targeted seven terrorist camps and hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which were linked to groups such as Fitna al Khawarij, its affiliates, and Daesh-Khorasan. These airstrikes, conducted in the Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, reportedly killed more than 80 militants, further disrupting terrorist networks in the region.
It is worth mentioning that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated in October 2025 when border clashes erupted after unprovoked attacks by the Afghan Taliban and allied militants on Pakistani border posts. These confrontations resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while Pakistan mourned the loss of 23 soldiers who were killed defending the country’s frontiers. Despite multiple rounds of diplomatic talks, no lasting agreement has been reached due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take concrete action against terrorist groups operating from their soil.
As the security forces continue their operations in Kohat and other vulnerable areas, the government remains committed to safeguarding the nation against the persistent threat of terrorism. The recent successes in Kohat underscore the determination of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies to eliminate extremist elements and restore peace to the affected regions.
