SWAT: Three wanted terrorists, allegedly affiliated with a group led by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Muzaffar alias Khalid, were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the small hours of Thursday in Skhadob area of Swat.

The operation was conducted in the limits of Kanju police station jointly by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police. Two other suspects escaped and a search operation was under way to trace them, according to a press release issued by CTD.

It said that the department received credible information that militants belonging to the Muzaffar alias Khalid group were present in the mountainous areas of Segram, Lalu Banda and adjoining localities, planning terrorist activities.

The release said that CTD launched an intelligence-based operation in coordination with district police to arrest the suspects. During the operation in Skhadob, the suspects opened fire on police personnel upon seeing them, it said. It added that security personnel retaliated, prompting terrorists to take positions inside a nearby house, from where they continued firing indiscriminately.

It said when gunfire subsided, the search of the house led to the recovery of three bodies. Two other suspects managed to escape and efforts to locate them were continuing, it added.

The deceased were identified as Abdullah, son of Syed Bashar, and Mansoor Ali, son of Abdul Matlib, both residents of Neelagram in Matta tehsil, and Ghufranullah, son of Afzal Khan, a resident of Sheedala in Shikardar, Swat. All of them belonged to Swat district.

The CTD said that three Kalashnikov rifles, six magazines and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the deceased. Police also found their national identity cards, a gas cylinder, cooking utensils, a map of Shikardar police station and a diary at the scene.

According to preliminary information shared by the department, the killed militants were allegedly involved in several terrorist incidents reported in Swat during the current year. These included an attack on Afzal Khan Gujar, firing at the house and hujra of Naimat Ali Khan, and the targeted killing of Saleemullah alias Sajid of Neelagram, besides other incidents.

The CTD said that further investigation into the operation was under way while a search for the two escaped suspects continued. The inspector general of police, Zulfiqar Hameed, praised the personnel involved in the operation for their bravery, professional skills and dedication.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2026