BANNU: Police claimed to have killed two terrorists in an exchange of fire during an intelligence-based operation in the Lora Ghada area of Garira Shahjahan here on Wednesday.

They said the operation was conducted under the supervision of district police officer Mohammad Furqan Bilal following intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists in the area.

Sub-divisional police officer rural Asmatullah Khan, SHOs of Mandan, city and cantonment police stations, the Quick Response Force squad and armoured personnel carriers participated in the operation.

Police said that the exchange of fire continued for around 25 minutes.

The bodies were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital for identification and other legal formalities.

Following the operation, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. A Kalashnikov, a pistol and a wireless communication set were recovered from the possession of the slain persons.

Police said the identities of the two men and details of their alleged criminal record were being ascertained.

Police said operations against suspected elements would continue as part of efforts to protect the lives and property of citizens and maintain law and order in Bannu.

Meanwhile, police and the Counter-Terrorism Department launched a search operation in the mountainous Esor Ghar area in the Wazir subdivision on Wednesday after terrorists reportedly carried out two quadcopter attacks on the local population.

According to local sources, no casualties were reported in the attacks.

Following the quadcopter attacks, the Hathikhel peace committee reportedly pursued the terrorists towards the mountainous area.

Police, however, did not come across the terrorists during the operation.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026