Three suspected militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Bhittani Group were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and local police in Tank, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday.
According to a CTD statement, the operation was conducted in the Garah Fakira area along Jandola Road after intelligence reports indicated that militants were present in the area and planning a major attack.
Security personnel came under fire upon reaching the location and responded to the attack. An exchange of gunfire continued for some time before officers launched a search operation in the area. They later recovered three bodies.
Two of the deceased were identified as Osama, son of Sultan, and Suleman, son of Wali Muhammad. Both were residents of Faqeer Kallay in Jandola. Authorities were working to establish the identity of the third individual.
The CTD said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to several terrorist attacks in the region. According to the department, they were allegedly involved in planting an improvised explosive device (IED) on the roof of a shop near the Meera Alam petrol pump. The explosion killed two police personnel and a civilian, while seven other people were injured.
The suspects were also accused of planting an IED along the main road in Wana Bazaar and another on the roof of the office of Bilal, a local peace committee head, the statement added.
The CTD further stated that Osama was the brother of Shoaib, a militant killed during an attack on Bannu Cantonment in 2025. Musa, who was killed in retaliatory fire following an attack on police in Wana Bazaar, was also identified as Osama’s cousin.
During the search operation, security personnel recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, 11 ammunition magazines and a mobile phone.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and the additional inspector general of the CTD commended the personnel involved for their performance. They reiterated their commitment to continuing counterterrorism operations and protecting the lives and property of the public.
The operation comes amid continued security efforts against militant activity across the province. On September 25, the CTD reported foiling a suspected major attack in Peshawar’s Garhi Sherdad area along Warsak Road.
At the time, the department said intelligence indicated that three suicide attackers had entered the provincial capital to target a sensitive installation. CTD Constable Muhammad Afaq was martyred during the ensuing exchange of fire, while three other personnel were injured. A search operation was subsequently launched to locate the two remaining suspects.
