SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Three police officials, who were abducted from Ladha and Servekai police stations on July 19, were successfully recovered late Friday night following a coordinated effort involving the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), police, security forces and Mehsud tribal elders.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Upper South Waziristan Arshad Khan, the safe recovery of the officers was the outcome of effective collaboration and strategic coordination among all relevant institutions.

“Immediately after the incident, police, intelligence agencies, and the district administration were fully mobilised,” he added.

The recovered officials were promptly shifted to Ladha police lines for medical examination and debriefing.

The families of the recovered personnel expressed deep gratitude to DPO Arshad Khan and all security agencies.

“The timely and well-planned strategy by the DPO gave our loved ones a new life. We are sincerely thankful to him and his team,” they stated.

The incident took place on July 19, when the police officials were on a routine patrol and were ambushed and abducted by unidentified armed men, who moved them to an undisclosed location.

Following 12 days of tribal mediation and intelligence-led negotiations, the officers were released and safely returned to duty.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2025