Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s fight against terrorism persists, with the province’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan announcing Thursday that 88 terrorists have been eliminated in various anti-terror operations since the start of 2024.
In discussions with the media, IG Khan highlighted that numerous high-profile targets were among those slain in diverse operations, leading to the capture of several militants.
Emphasizing the enhanced law and order situation in Dera Ismail Khan and the merged districts of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the KP police chief affirmed the commitment to pursue militants through intelligence-based operations (IBOs).
Acknowledging the sacrifices of the police in the anti-terrorism campaign, the officer lamented the loss of 41 police personnel this year in the battle against terrorism.
Addressing concerns over security threats faced by foreign nationals in the province, particularly highlighted by the recent suicide attack in Shangla’s Besham city claiming the lives of five Chinese citizens, IG Khan assured improved security measures for foreigners.
These statements come amidst heightened terrorist activities in KP and Balochistan, as indicated by the Q1 2024 Security Report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The report revealed that during the first quarter of 2024, Pakistan witnessed 432 violence-related fatalities and 370 injuries across civilians, security personnel, and outlaws due to 245 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations. Notably, KP and Balochistan accounted for over 92% of fatalities and 86% of attacks during this period.
Specifically, KP reported 51% of all fatalities, while Balochistan accounted for 41%, with other regions experiencing less than 8% of total fatalities, indicating relative peace.
