Terrorist Killed in Hangu Operation Following Attack on DPO

HANGU: Following an assault in which District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Khalid Khan sustained injuries, a separate terrorist linked to the incident was killed during a police operation conducted in Hangu’s Naryab vicinity on Saturday.

Law enforcement agencies executed a raid in Naryab, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. All police personnel remained unharmed during the confrontation.

Authorities reported that the terrorist involved in the attack targeting the DPO was killed by gunfire originating from his own associates.

This development unfolds after a fierce exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Hangu’s Shinawari Zargari region on July 19.

DPO Khalid, who was leading the operation, suffered three gunshot wounds during the encounter and was promptly transported to Peshawar for medical care.

During the exchange, security forces successfully eliminated nine terrorists.

Pakistan has experienced a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces, since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), based in Islamabad, reveals a 5% increase in attacks in May compared to April.

According to PICSS’s monthly security assessment, May saw 85 militant attacks, a slight increase from 81 in April. These incidents resulted in 113 deaths, including 52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members. The month also recorded 182 injuries, comprising 130 civilians, 47 security personnel, four militants, and one peace committee member.

While the overall number of attacks saw a minor increase, closer inspection of the data uncovers concerning trends.

Fatalities among security personnel increased by a substantial 73%, emphasizing the ongoing threat faced by Pakistan’s armed forces.

Civilian injuries also saw a dramatic 145% surge, from 53 in April to 130 in May, highlighting the increasing impact of militant activities on the public. Conversely, injuries among security personnel decreased by 20%, from 59 to 47.