ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police, have killed two terrorists during a joint intelligence-based counter terrorism operation in the Karam Garhi Mamand Khel area of Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday.
According to the Counter Terrorism Department Bannu, the counter terrorism operation was conducted at 8:30 PM within the jurisdiction of Bannu Cantt Police Station.
During the exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed. One of the killed terrorists was identified as Mohib Khan, alias Sameen, son of Sher Abdullah and a resident of Grera Imam Shah in Bannu.
According to the CTD, Mohib Khan was a local commander of Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) terrorist group and the nephew of IMP terrorist commander Zar Gul, alias Uncle.
Mohib Khan was wanted in 22 cases registered with CTD Bannu. He was involved in target killings, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks on police and security forces, kidnappings, damage to public and private property, and illegal road blockades.
The identity of the second individual killed during the operation is being established.
Pakistan witnesses significant rise in terrorist attacks
Pakistan has witnessed a significant rise in cross-border terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
The country recorded its highest monthly number of terrorist attacks in 12 years in September 2026.
According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based independent think tank that monitors anti-state violence in the region, 225 terrorist attacks were reported across Pakistan in September, up from 199 in August, marking a 13% increase. The number of attacks rose for the third consecutive month.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist organisations to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan maintains that the Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to take effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians, a claim disputed by Kabul.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, months after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025 following clashes at several points along the border.
