KOHAT — Law enforcement agencies successfully neutralized four high-profile militants early Friday morning during a precise, intelligence-based joint operation executed along the Karak-Kohat border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Acting on credible intelligence detailing local militant movements, dynamic tactical squads from both Karak and Kohat police divisions mobilized at 5:00 AM, surrounding a strategic hideout located in the rugged terrain surrounding the Khattak Dam area.
Following an “intense exchange of fire”, four terrorists from the ‘Commander Zahid Group’ were killed, KP police said in a statement.
It added that the terrorist group had reportedly been involved in the killing of several police officers and personnel.https://t.co/DgArrbtHRH
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) July 10, 2026
Key Operational Takeaways
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Targeted Neutralization: Four active militants belonging to the dangerous, cross-district ‘Commander Zahid Group’ were eliminated during the encounter.
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Fierce Retaliation: The suspects launched heavy gunfire to break the police perimeter, sparking an intense exchange of fire before being overcome.
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Track Record: According to provincial police records, the targeted cell had been actively involved in a series of targeted ambushes and assassinations of local police officers.
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Ongoing Cleansing: Security teams have permanently cordoned off the sector, initiating a secondary search operation to sweep for hidden munitions and uncover auxiliary facilitator networks.
Federal Leadership commends KP Police Amid Surging Footprint
In an official statement released shortly after the raid, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the tactical precision of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police force. The minister noted that the joint task force successfully foiled the nefarious designs of hostile, externally sponsored proxy networks trying to disrupt regional stability.
The successful operation is a vital breakthrough for local law enforcement amid a highly volatile regional security landscape. Independent studies from the Centre for Research and Security Studies highlight a drastic spike in regional conflict, noting that security fatalities in KP surged sharply from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
