The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) successfully neutralized nine militants and apprehended 21 others in intelligence-driven operations conducted on Thursday in the Karak and Khyber districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
These operations were integral to ongoing investigations into significant terror incidents, including the suicide bombing at the Haqqania seminary and a foiled plot targeting Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl. The efforts have led to substantial breakthroughs in dismantling militant infrastructure.
Investigators uncovered extensive militant financing networks, identifying sources of funds, safe houses, and patterns used for selecting targets. Notably, evidence revealed the use of cryptocurrency as a channel for terror financing, marking a new dimension in militant funding methods.
The Central Police Office (CPO) reported tracing sleeper cells affiliated with banned organizations and foreign fighter networks. Authorities also mapped out a coordinated militant network responsible for multiple attacks across the region.
Despite progress, challenges persist due to cross-border connections and the difficult terrain that complicates intelligence gathering and operational execution. The police highlighted that responsibility for several major attacks, such as the Police Lines suicide bombing and the Haqqania seminary blast, remains unclaimed. Furthermore, some claims by banned groups were found to be inaccurate or misleading.
Security forces continue to conduct frequent intelligence-based operations targeting militant groups, especially in KP and Balochistan, areas that have experienced a resurgence of militant violence in recent years. These ongoing efforts aim to curb terrorism and enhance regional security.
