DERA GHAZI KHAN: Police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Rangers personnel killed two militants and left several others injured in a joint operation in the Punjab-KP border area, in which two policemen also suffered minor injuries.

According to police, the personnel of DG Khan police, CTD and Rangers had an encounter with militants in Kotani Tal area in the vicinity of Wahowa police station.

They say the militants, armed with rockets, hand grenades, and heavy weaponry, opened fire on the security forces. During the intense exchange of fire, two militants were killed, while several others sustained injuries, they added.

They say that despite the heavy firing by the militants, the police teams responded with full force, forcing the militants to flee towards nearby hills for cover.

During the encounter, an elite force official, Adnan Habib and a CTD personnel, Ghazanfar, sustained minor injuries and are said to be in stable condition now.

A Punjab police spokesperson confirmed the encounter, stating that a search operation is going on in the area to apprehend the fleeing militants.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025