Security forces killed six suspected terrorists during a joint operation in Kohat on Sunday, according to officials. The operation was carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) along with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police after intelligence reports suggested that militants were present in several areas of Lachi and were planning a major attack.
District Police Officer Shehbaz Elahi said security teams launched a search and strike operation after receiving credible intelligence about terrorist activity in the area. According to him, the suspects opened fire when they spotted security personnel, triggering an exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, six terrorists were killed while security forces managed to secure the area.
Police officials said weapons were recovered from the militants after the operation. The surrounding area has since been completely cordoned off, and further search operations are ongoing to ensure that no other suspects remain in the vicinity.
Mohsin Naqvi praised the police and CTD teams for their successful operation, commending their efforts in maintaining peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the bravery and dedication shown by security personnel in counterterrorism operations deserve recognition.
The development comes just a day after another intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat where six terrorists were also killed by the CTD. That operation followed a deadly incident in which seven police personnel, including the station house officer of Shadi Khel police station, were martyred when an improvised explosive device targeted a police vehicle in the district.
Terrorism has remained a growing concern in Pakistan in recent years. Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data shows that attacks in Pakistan have increased significantly since 2022. According to the organization, the number of attacks rose from 658 in 2022 to around 2,425 in 2025. During the same period, attacks attributed to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan increased sharply from 118 to 838.
The Pakistani government has repeatedly raised concerns on international platforms about militant sanctuaries operating across the border in Afghanistan and using its territory to launch attacks in Pakistan, a concern that has also been discussed in forums such as the United Nations Security Council.
Last month, a suicide bombing targeted Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Islamabad during Friday prayers, killing 36 people and injuring around 169 others. The attack was the deadliest in Islamabad in more than a decade and the worst nationwide incident since the Peshawar mosque bombing January 2023.
