A police officer stands guard on a street with damaged shops in the background in Bannu Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Photo: AFP
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Police foiled a terrorist attack on a police van on Company Road within the jurisdiction of Bannu’s Domel Police Station, killing two attackers and recovering weapons.
According to police, a Domel police mobile van was on routine patrol when armed terrorists, hiding in bushes, opened fire on the team near Company Road. The police personnel responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
Additional contingents, including an armoured personnel carrier, Quick Response Force, and Rapid Response Force, were dispatched from Bannu Police Lines following the alert. An intense exchange of fire continued for approximately 20 minutes.
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As a result of the effective police response, the attackers were neutralised. A subsequent search operation led to the recovery of the bodies of two terrorists along with weapons, which were shifted to Khaleefa Gul Nawaz Hospital for legal formalities.
Following the incident, the area was cordoned off, and a comprehensive search and clearance operation was initiated to ensure the safety of residents and eliminate any remaining threats.
K-P experienced a significant surge in terrorism in 2025, with over 500 attacks reported — a 50% increase compared to the previous year.
A detailed security assessment obtained by The Express Tribune indicates that the province faced 1,588 terrorism-related incidents, reflecting a rapidly escalating militant threat across both settled and tribal regions.
Read More: Police repel militant attack on Bannu post
Despite the rise in attacks, security forces prevented 320 major strikes, though 137 police officers and personnel lost their lives in the line of duty.
A Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) report highlights that joint operations carried out by K-P police, the CTD, and other security agencies led to the arrest of 1,244 suspected terrorists, while 420 high-profile militants were neutralised in intelligence-based operations.
Districts, including Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, and Peshawar, remained the most frequently targeted, with a noticeable pattern of attacks reportedly planned and executed from across the Afghan border.
