Four terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Peshawar Region at Mehr Gul Kallay graveyard in Mira Kachori, Peshawar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police statement. The operation was launched after intelligence indicated that terrorists linked to the proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) Jamroz Group were present in the area and planning attacks on security forces and government property.
A CTD SWAT team subsequently moved into the area and initiated the intelligence-based operation. The terrorists opened fire after spotting the CTD personnel, leading to an exchange of fire that continued for approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
After the firing stopped, CTD personnel searched the area and found four terrorists dead. Several others escaped under the cover of darkness. All CTD personnel involved in the operation remained safe.
Weapons Recovered from Site
Authorities recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, one pistol, one hand grenade, seven magazines, and multiple rounds of ammunition from the killed terrorists.
The weapons and ammunition were taken into custody for further investigation and forensic examination. Terrorist profiling of the deceased is also underway, while search operations continue for those who escaped.
Afghan National Identified
One of the killed terrorists was identified as Syed Wali, son of Abdul Ghani, a resident of Nangarhar, Afghanistan, after an Afghan refugee card was recovered from his possession.
CTD said intelligence agencies had previously issued a threat alert that three suicide bombers had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan through Khyber District. Investigators are examining whether Syed Wali was one of the suspected bombers, while further investigation remains underway.
The identification of an Afghan national among the killed terrorists further raises questions over the Afghan Taliban’s failure to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan has repeatedly maintained that groups based in Afghanistan use these safe havens to plan, coordinate and facilitate attacks across the border. The continued presence of such networks, along with the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activity inside Pakistan, has intensified scrutiny of the Taliban authorities over their inability or unwillingness to prevent Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan.
