At least two terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Khawarij group were killed, while two others escaped during a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation on the Dera Ghazi Khan-Quetta road, a CTD spokesperson reported on Friday. Interestingly, the terrorists were killed by the gunfire of their own accomplices during the clash.
The CTD recovered a hand grenade and explosive materials from the terrorists’ hideout, and a search operation is ongoing to capture the fleeing suspects.
This incident is not the first of its kind. In August, a wanted terrorist from the banned Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) was similarly killed by his own accomplice, according to security sources.
The CTD’s operation is part of a broader counter-terrorism effort by the government, which recently launched Operation Azm-e-Istehkam following recommendations from the Central Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. This campaign aims to curb rising terrorism as the country battles economic instability, political unrest, and a surge in violent incidents.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen an increase in terror attacks, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) indicates a sharp rise in attacks, with the number of incidents jumping from 38 in July to 59 in August. These included 29 attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 28 in Balochistan, and two in Punjab.
