Peshawar

Six militants were killed during a counter-terrorism operation carried out in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, police officials said.

The operation was conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Lower Dir district after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of armed militants in the hilly region.

Officials said the individuals were allegedly involved in a recent attack on a police checkpoint and the killing of a police constable.

According to the CTD, security forces and district police launched the operation after receiving information about a group of “Fitna-al-Khawarij” militants hiding in the area. The suspects reportedly emerged from their hideouts when law enforcement attempted to apprehend them.

The militants then opened fire on the police team, triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire. Following the operation and subsequent search, six militants were confirmed dead, the CTD said.

Authorities recovered six Kalashnikov rifles and three hand grenades from the site.

The term “Fitna al-Khawarij” is used by Pakistani authorities to refer to members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the CTD and provincial police for the successful operation, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed commended the personnel involved and reiterated that such actions will continue until terrorism is eliminated from the region.

Security concerns in Pakistan have intensified in recent months. According to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the country witnessed a sharp rise in militant activity in May 2026.

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The report recorded 128 terrorist attacks in May, compared to 101 in April, marking a 27 per cent increase and reversing the declining trend observed in the preceding months. The findings highlight ongoing security challenges in the conflict-affected regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.