PESHAWAR: Terrorists and law-enforcement personnel exchanged fire during an intelligence-based operation in Tarun area of Hassankhel subdivision on the border between Peshawar and Kohat districts on Thursday, sources said.

They said the operation was carried out following information about the presence of the affiliates of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan who were seen in the bazaar.

The sources said heavy weapons were used by both sides but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

They said that the exchange of fire lasted until evening, while the law-enforcement agencies launched a search operation for terrorists but since the area was forested, the action was suspended due to the risks involved.

The sources said the operation would resume today (Friday) morning.

Hassankhel, previously part of Frontier Region Peshawar, was merged with Peshawar district as a subdivision when the Federal Administered Tribal Areas were annexed with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018.

The area has witnessed several IBOs by law-enforcement agencies against terrorists in the past. Multiple terrorists were killed and several personnel of law-enforcement agencies were martyred in encounters.

On July 10, 2024, two security personnel and two police officers were martyred, while a high-profile terrorist was killed in an IBO in Hassankhel area, according to the military’s media wing.

In a statement, the ISPR said security forces and police jointly conducted an IBO based on the reported presence of high-profile terrorist Abdul Raheem. It added that an intense exchange of fire led to the killing of Rahim and two other terrorists.

The ISPR said 14 days before July 10’s joint IBO, an army captain and a soldier were martyred, while five terrorists were killed in an IBO in the same area.

It added that the security forces successfully engaged the terrorists’ location and killed five terrorists and injured three.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025