Five suspected militants killed in CTD operation in Attock, officials say

ATTOCK: The Counter Terrorism Department said on Tuesday that five suspected militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the Mankor border area, a remote locality in Jand tehsil of Attock district.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation was launched after authorities received what he described as credible intelligence about the presence and activities of militants allegedly involved in planning attacks in Punjab. He said the CTD team moved into the area, where the suspects opened fire, leading to what he described as an intense exchange of gunfire between the militants and law enforcement personnel.

The spokesperson said CTD personnel responded to the firing and all five suspected terrorists were killed in the encounter. He added that weapons, explosive material and hand grenades were recovered from the site after the operation.

He said initial findings suggested the slain militants were allegedly connected to plans for terrorist activities in Punjab. The operation, he added, was carried out on the basis of sensitive intelligence reports about their movements and operational planning.

The spokesperson further said that authorities had begun a wider search operation in Attock’s border regions to trace any remaining suspects, facilitators or accomplices who may have escaped during the raid.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the department for what Radio Pakistan described as a successful operation against Fitna al Khawarij in Attock. The term Fitna al Khawarij is used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

In a statement, the prime minister commended the CTD’s professionalism and said security forces, police and the department were making significant gains in the fight against terrorism. He also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations from the country.