RAWALPINDI: In an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Khyber district on Sunday, security forces successfully eliminated a “high-value target” named Surat Gul, also identified as Saif Ullah, associated with Daesh.
Acting swiftly upon receiving information about the presence of this high-profile terrorist, security forces carried out a raid in the tribal district, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire that led to the demise of the ‘ring leader’ of the outlawed terrorist outfit.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the killed terrorist commander, Surat Gul, was actively involved in various terrorist activities, including the targeted killing of innocent civilians, and extortion, and was on the high-priority list of law enforcement agencies. The operation also yielded the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the eliminated terrorists.
A sanitization operation is underway to eliminate any other potential terrorists in the area. The local community in the vicinity has expressed appreciation for the operation and pledged full support to eradicate the menace of terrorism. This development follows a similar incident earlier in the month, where security forces successfully neutralized two terrorists, including a ring leader, in KP’s North Waziristan district.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in attacks in its tribal districts bordering Afghanistan since the return of the Taliban to power in 2021. Islamabad alleges that Kabul provides shelter to allied militants, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allowing them to launch attacks on Pakistani soil without repercussions.
Statistics from the Department of Interior and Tribal Affairs KP indicate that areas most affected by terrorism include Peshawar, Khyber, Bajaur, and Tank. Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan are also identified as terror-affected regions.
Last year, a total of 1,050 incidents of terrorism occurred in KP, with 419 incidents in arranged districts and 631 incidents in the merged districts, as per documents from the Home and Tribal areas.
