PESHAWAR: A key commander of the Islamic State–Khorasan (IS-K) militant group was killed in a late-night police operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district, security sources said on Wednesday. Acting on an intelligence tip-off, police launched a raid on a suspected hideout in Ambari village, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire that lasted about four hours.
During the operation, Nisar Hakim, identified as a senior IS-K commander, was killed, while four policemen sustained injuries. The wounded officers were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment and are said to be in stable condition.
According to intelligence officials, Hakim was a high-value target and had been on the security agencies’ watchlist for months.
He was allegedly the mastermind behind a failed suicide bombing attempt targeting Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Authorities believe he also played a key role in facilitating IS-K recruitment and coordination activities in parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Police officials said the operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on militant networks operating in the region. “It was a successful intelligence-based operation, and we will continue to pursue all remaining elements linked to IS-K,” a senior police officer told Dawn on condition of anonymity.
Security forces later cordoned off the area and conducted a search to ensure no other militants escaped during the raid. Weapons and communication devices were reportedly recovered from the site and sent for forensic analysis.
Karak district has long been on the radar of law enforcement and intelligence agencies due to suspected IS-K presence and recruitment efforts. The killing of Hakim marks a significant blow to the group’s local network, officials said, as security operations continue across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to curb militancy resurgence.
