The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij in a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday, said a statement by the department.

Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“On the special instructions of the inspector general of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, targeted operations against Fitna-al-Khawarij have been intensified in response to the attacks on the police,” the CTD said.

It added that this morning, DI Khan’s CTD successfully carried out an operation on a confirmed intelligence report.

“CTD teams reached the spot and surrounded the terrorists, who opened fire to avoid arrest. CTD teams also retaliated in self-defence, as a result of which the khawariji terrorists were killed,” said the statement.

During the search operation, it said, the bodies of three terrorists were recovered and identified. According to the CTD, the slain terrorists were directly involved in attacks on police and security forces.

The statement added that three Kalashnikovs, nine magazines, two hand grenades and several cartridges were also recovered from the slain terrorists.

“In view of the presence of more terrorists and facilitators in the area, the scope of the investigation, including search operations, has also been expanded,” it said.

According to the press release, KP’s Inspector General (IG) of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and the CTD additional IG paid tribute to the personnel of the CTD special weapons and tactics teams for the successful operation, and said that the series of targeted operations would be further intensified to make an example of Fitna al-Khawarij.

“He added that the response to attacks on police and security forces will be very severe and the struggle will continue until the last khawarij is destroyed,” the statement said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the CTD for “sending three Indian-sponsored terrorists to hell” in DI Khan, a statement from his ministry said.

Hailing their courage and professional abilities, the statement said the CTD had thwarted the “nefarious intentions” of the terrorists.

“The entire nation proudly stands with the brave forces in completely eradicating the menace of Fitna al-Hindustan,” Naqvi was quoted as saying.

The state has designated some terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

Surge in terrorism

Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorism since the TTP ended its ceasefire deal with the government in November 2022, vowing to increase attacks.

Despite record militant deaths, Pakistan saw a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21 per cent year on year, according to a report released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.

At least nine people — seven police officials and two civilians — lost their lives in terrorist attacks in Tank and DI Khan districts on Monday, officials said.

On Saturday, the military’s media wing said that security forces had killed 11 terrorists in two separate IBOs in KP.

Also on Saturday, a CTD official was martyred by unidentified motorcyclists in Peshawar, while another was gunned down in Bannu.

The day before, a policeman was martyred after gunmen attacked him in the Bajaur tribal district, while another died in Khyber when gunmen ambushed a car.

Three cops were injured in Bannu last week as a police vehicle transporting prisoners to Hangu came under attack by “terrorists”. Also in Bannu, a former tehsil nazim was injured in a bomb blast outside his office on January 6.