Five terrorists were killed in an Upper Dir operation carried out jointly by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The clash also claimed the life of a civilian, while eight policemen sustained injuries.
District Police Officer Upper Dir confirmed that the intelligence-based action was launched in Dobando Dara, Barikot, Salamkot, and Hatan Darra. Heavy gunfire erupted between security forces and militants, continuing until late Monday night.
Officials stated that the terrorists involved in the Upper Dir operation were linked to the August 14 assault on a police van in Panahkot. That earlier attack left three policemen martyred and six others injured.
During the recent clash, a resident of Salamkot, Yar Muhammad, embraced martyrdom. His funeral prayer was offered at Police Lines Dir late Sunday night, attended by police officials and local residents. The eight injured policemen were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Dir. Doctors confirmed that all were in stable condition.
Authorities reported recovering four bodies of the slain terrorists while clearance efforts in the surrounding valleys continued. Security sources described the militants as “Indian-sponsored” and associated with the group Fitna al-Hindustan.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi lauded the Upper Dir operation, praising the courage and professionalism of the KP police and CTD. “The terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan have been defeated by the valour of our forces,” he declared. The minister added that the nation firmly stands with its security institutions in the mission to eradicate extremism once and for all.
Naqvi also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured personnel and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting every step taken by security forces. Officials stressed that the counterterrorism operation in Upper Dir has sent a strong message that militants will find no space in Pakistan.
The successful Upper Dir operation is being viewed as another milestone in the ongoing fight against terrorism and cross-border sponsored militancy.