PESHAWAR: Five suspected militants, who were killed while trying to enter Peshawar from the Khyber tribal district on Friday night, were planning to carry out attacks in Peshawar and other parts of the province, police said on Saturday.

On Friday night, five suspected terrorists were killed in an encounter with the Counter-Terrorism Department officials in the Zagi Ghar area close to the border with Khyber district in the limits of Regi police station.

CTD officials claimed that the slain were part of a larger group of about 10-12 militants, and had entered the Khyber district from Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Peshawar, Mohmand, Charsadda and Malakand.

They said that intelligence reports suggested that the militants were trying to organise attacks on police and security forces installations in these areas.

They said that while five of them were killed in the operation, which was carried out on the basis of intelligence reports, the rest of the outlaws managed to escape in the cover of darkness.

The CTD officials also recovered three suicide jackets, three submachine guns, two pistols, two hand grenades and walkie-talkie set from the militants.

The slain militants were identified as Niaz Ali, a resident of Peshawar, Adnan from Landi Kotal area of Khyber tribal district, Jamil Ahmed from Sheringal area of Upper Dir and Azizullah from Malakanad.

The CTD has registered FIR and started further investigations.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020