BANNU: Two terrorists, including an under-custody ‘high-profile commander’, were killed in an exchange of fire with the personnel of Counter-Terrorism Department in Bannu district on Sunday, CTD officials claimed.

They said that the terrorist commander, Usama alias Danial alias Baghi, was arrested earlier and was being transported for further interrogation when his associates opened fire on the police party in a bid to get him freed from the law enforcers. They said Usama was an active member of the banned militant outfit, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan.

SP CTD Fazal Wahid stated that the team was proceeding to complete identification procedures at the crime scene related to the attack on late North Waziristan assistant commissioner Shah Wali Khan when terrorists ambushed the personnel.

He said that CTD team retaliated and killed another terrorist, identified as Kamyab Khan alias Ikhlas Yar, a resident of Shewa area of North Waziristan district. He added that arms, including a Kalashnikov with two magazines, two hand grenades, a card of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and a cellular phone, were also recovered from his possession.

Usama was arrested on February 12 and, in a video statement, the terrorist commander had confessed to his involvement in nine major terrorist activities, including the attack on the Miranshah assistant commissioner.

His confessions reportedly included the abduction and brutal killing of former SHO Abid Wazir, the kidnapping and murder of three Lakki Marwat Peace Committee leaders — Attaullah, Farmanullah, and Waliullah — the abduction of two FC personnel and police officials, and the killing of polio officer Malik Ishaq and his gunman.

He also admitted conducting reconnaissance of sensitive institutions, providing confidential photographs and information of police personnel to terrorists, and setting up illegal checkpoints in Pipal Bazaar, Bannu, and other areas to harass civilians.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2026