• Two security personnel martyred in attack on police station in D.I. Khan; search for abducted official continues
• 40kg IED planted under bridge defused in Lakki
QUETTA / DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police killed 14 terrorists in two separate intelligence-based operations in Quetta and Barkhan areas of Balochistan, while two security personnel were martyred in an attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the officials, CTD personnel, headed by senior officers, first conducted an operation in the Darkhidhan area, a locality on the outskirts of the provincial capital along the Quetta-Sukkur National Highway, on Wednesday morning after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists there.
As soon as the security personnel reached the suspected hideout, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, prompting retaliatory action. After a heavy exchange of fire, eight terrorists were killed on the spot, while three CTD officials sustained injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A CTD spokesperson said a large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the slain terrorists. Initial reports suggested the terrorists belonged to a proscribed organisation. Following the encounter, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend possible facilitators or fleeing suspects. Further investigations are under way.
In a separate incident, the CTD carried out another intelligence-based operation in the Tang Kariz and Murri areas of Barkhan. The officials said terrorists opened fire when security forces surrounded the suspected location. In the ensuing gun battle, six terrorists were killed.
Authorities confirmed that a significant quantity of arms and explosive material was recovered from the site. The killed terrorists were reportedly involved in attacks on security forces and in disrupting law and order. Their bodies were shifted to a hospital for legal formalities.
The CTD said investigations into both incidents are continuing.
Two personnel martyred
Meanwhile, two security personnel were martyred and three others injured in a late-night attack by terrorists on the Yarik police station and a customs post in Dera Ismail Khan.
According to police, heavily armed terrorists stormed the customs post within the jurisdiction of the police station and engaged security personnel in an exchange of fire. During the attack, the terrorists set two vehicles parked at the customs premises ablaze.
Customs constable Mohammad Israr and police constable Mohammad Bilal were martyred in the gun battle.
Customs constable Nauman and police constables Hazrat Umar and Khayal Mohammad sustained injuries and were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Officials said the attackers also abducted a customs official while fleeing the scene. The terrorists reportedly used heavy weapons in the assault and also targeted the police station. Police retaliated, forcing the attackers to escape under the cover of darkness.
The area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched to trace the terrorists and recover the abducted official.
Meanwhile, funeral prayers for the martyred police constable were offered at the Ejaz Shaheed Police Lines, attended by senior civil, police and military officials as well as local elders.
Bomb planted under bridge
Police defused a bomb planted under a bridge on the Lakki-Darra Tang section of the Bannu-Mianwali road near Lakki city on Wednesday.
A police official said terrorists had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) under the bridge on the main artery connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab, apparently to target law enforcement personnel. He said the road was also used by public transport and law enforcement personnel during patrol duty.
The official said educational institutions and a residential area were located near the site where the IED had been planted.
“Police cordoned off the area and defused the bomb with the help of experts from the bomb disposal squad,” the official said, adding that the IED weighed 40kg.
On Feb 16, police had defused two IEDs on a rural road in the Land Ahmadkhel area of Lakki Marwat district.
Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026