The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police on Friday night said a suicide bomber and two other terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire after a blast was reported in Dera Ismail Khan.
“There are sounds of firing after a blast,” DI Khan Police Public Relations Officer Yaqoob Khan told Dawn.com, adding that “a suicide bomber and two terrorists killed so far. Operation ongoing.’’
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in KP and Balochistan, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies’ personnel, and security forces. Attacks increased after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan broke a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022.
A senior army officer was martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the district a day ago. A cop was martyred in the district as a police checkpoint came under attack from multiple sides by terrorists late on Wednesday.
Recently, multiple areas of KP — including Bannu, Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Bajaur — have seen a series of terrorist attacks, particularly targeting police personnel.
Last month, 13 terrorists were killed during an IBO in the district’s Daraban area.
According to reports compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) and the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), KP remained the most terrorism affected province last month, but also witnessed intensified counterterrorism actions. The province reported 45 attacks that killed 54 people and injured 49.
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.
