Peshawar, Nov 6: A key commander of the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militant group, Nisar Hakim, was killed in a late-evening police operation in Ambari village, Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources told Dawn.
Police launched the raid following an intelligence tip-off, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted about four hours. Four policemen were wounded during the operation.
The Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) is a regional affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS) operating in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and surrounding areas. Formed in 2015, it emerged from splinter groups of the Taliban and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), pledging allegiance to ISIS. IS-K is notorious for high-profile suicide bombings, targeting civilians, government institutions, religious minorities, and rival militant factions. Its ideology is rooted in extremist Salafi-jihadism, seeking to establish a caliphate in the historical Khorasan region. The group has exploited instability in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan to recruit fighters, finance operations, and launch attacks, making it a major regional security threat.
Slain commander believed to be mastermind of a failed suicide bombing targeting JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. https://t.co/pn8kRnTNhT
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 6, 2025
Hakim was reportedly the mastermind behind a failed suicide attack targeting JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, authorities said.
Karak has long been monitored by security agencies for IS-K activity, including recruitment and militant operations, making it a known hotspot in the region.
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The operation is part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at dismantling IS-K networks and preventing attacks on political and civilian targets.
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