KHYBER: As many as 10 terrorists were killed by the security forces in Bara on Monday in a swift and effective operation after a brief seizure of a government school by a group of terrorists.

Security officials said that the group of ‘Khawarij’, a term the state authorities use for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was effectively tackled and eliminated only hours after they seized a government school in the Akkakhel area and hoisted their flag on the school premises.

They said that security forces not only foiled their attempt to occupy the school building but also killed all 10 of them during a swift action. Security officials stated that the armed group of terrorists were in a hurry to flee the area after briefly seizing the school building and hoisting their flag. They were timely intercepted before they could flee, as they had been doing for the last few days in parts of Bara, they stated.

Sources in Bara said that the constant movement of the TTP and Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) men in different parts of Bara since the last week of Ramazan had not only terrified the residents but also placed a question mark on the effectiveness of the security apparatus on the outskirts of Bara.

These armed men had also started snap-checking vehicles on the main roads and even went to the extent of knocking on the doors of the famous Bara Bazaar while establishing a check post in the Al-Haj market for a short while.

Sources said that these elements also interacted with residents to gain their sympathies while also seeking their cooperation against the security forces and uploading their videos on social media.

The Monday operation was a major action conducted by the security forces after Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj. Gen. Rao Imran Sartaj told a jirga of Bara and Tirah elders that doors to any negotiations with terrorists were permanently closed. He also warned the locals against assistance or patronage of such rogue elements in Bara and Tirah.

On Sunday, a multi-party conference organised by the Awami National Party in Bara also expressed deep concern over the rapid appearance of armed militants in Bara and demanded action against them.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026