The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Tuesday that they successfully neutralized a group of eight terrorists believed to be responsible for recent attacks on Customs officials in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Among those eliminated in the operation conducted on Monday was Jahanzaib, one of the most sought-after terrorists, as per the statement issued by the CTD.
These individuals, according to the statement, were also implicated in extortion activities, assaults on security personnel, and targeted killings.
The CTD emphasized that the terrorists had intentions of causing widespread disruption in the district.
Efforts were made to seal off the escape routes of the terrorists, with concerns raised about potential local support networks aiding them.
Stringent measures are being taken against any individuals found facilitating these terrorists, the agency asserted.
The recent attack on Customs officials near York Toll Plaza in DI Khan, resulting in the deaths of two officials and injuries to four others, occurred just days after a similar incident on April 18. During that attack in Daraban tehsil, six people, including five customs officials, lost their lives to gunfire.
Data from the Department of Interior and Tribal Affairs KP highlights Peshawar, Khyber, Bajaur, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan as the most affected areas by terrorism.
The Q1 2024 Security Report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) underscores that KP and Balochistan provinces accounted for over 92% of all fatalities and 86% of attacks nationwide, including terrorism incidents and security operations.
In the first quarter of 2024, KP suffered 51% and Balochistan 41% of all fatalities, with the remaining regions experiencing relatively lower levels of violence, constituting less than 8% of all fatalities.
