Joint operation targets militant positions on Peshawar outskirts

PESHAWAR: Security forces, including police, army, Frontier Corps and the Counter-Terrorism Department, carried out a joint intelligence-based operation against militants in the Hassan Khel area on the outskirts of Peshawar and Kohat, officials said on Sunday.

The operation targeted fighters linked to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, referred to by the state as Fitna al Khwarij, following a series of recent attacks on law enforcement personnel in the region.

According to senior officials, the operation was launched after intelligence reports indicated the presence of militants in the hilly terrain of Hassan Khel, an area that has witnessed repeated militant activity in recent months.

“The military, Frontier Corps, police and the Counter-Terrorism Department carried out a coordinated operation against the militants,” a senior official said, adding that several militants were injured during an exchange of fire, while many were believed to have been killed.

A statement issued by the city police said the operation was supervised by Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed, along with senior military officials and SSP Operations Farhan Khan.

Officials said the forces employed a coordinated strategy, making use of drone technology for surveillance while deploying anti-drone guns to counter potential aerial threats from militants. Sharpshooters equipped with sniper rifles were also part of the operation.

Multiple specialised units, including the police’s anti-terrorism squad and elite force, took part in the offensive, which resulted in the destruction of militant hideouts.

Authorities added that security personnel also repaired damaged public infrastructure during the operation, including a gas pipeline that had been targeted by militants.

The statement reaffirmed that law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating militancy from the area and ensuring the safety of civilians through continued joint operations.

Hassan Khel, located along the border of Peshawar and Kohat districts, has remained a hotspot for militant activity, with frequent intelligence-based operations carried out to dismantle insurgent networks.

The latest operation follows a string of incidents in the area. On April 13, a policeman, Munsif Azam, was abducted and later found dead, just days after another officer, Muqaddar Khan, was kidnapped and killed in the same locality.

Earlier, on February 8, police repelled a militant attack on checkpoints in Passani village near Hassan Khel. In November 2023, militants had also blown up a gas pipeline in the Hameed Khan Machine area, highlighting the continued security challenges in the region.