Six terrorists ‘killed in friendly fire’ during CTD operation

A major terror threat was averted near Chapri Dam in Mianwali as six terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation was launched following credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants in the area. Upon being intercepted, the terrorists opened fire on the CTD team, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire.

Officials reported that six “dangerous” terrorists were killed by the firing of their own accomplices during the shootout, while eight others managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

The CTD recovered a significant cache of weapons and explosives from the site, including one suicide jacket, three hand grenades, a sub-machine gun (SMG), two hundred rounds of ammunition and various explosive materials.

READ MORE: CTD arrests 24 ‘terrorists belonging to banned outfits’

Investigations reveal that the group had finalised a comprehensive plan to target the police and other law enforcement agencies. A spokesperson for the department stated that the timely intervention successfully foiled a large-scale conspiracy.

While the process of identifying the deceased militants is currently underway, security forces have cordoned off the region and launched an extensive search operation to apprehend the fleeing suspects. Security agencies remain on high alert, maintaining a close vigil on the situation to ensure public safety.

Pakistan saw a significant surge in terrorist attacks in 2025, with the number of attacks rising by 34 percent compared to the previous year.

According to the Pakistan Security Report 2025 released by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), the country witnessed 699 terrorist attacks, resulting in at least 1,034 deaths and 1,366 injuries.

READ MORE: Afghan border closure brings down terrorist violence by almost 17%: report

It said that terrorism-related fatalities increased by 21 percent, highlighting a continuing upward trend in militancy since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Of the 699 terrorist attacks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed 413 attacks, Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed 254 attacks, Sindh province recorded 21 attacks, Punjab witnessed 11, and three attacks were carried out in Gilgit-Baltistan in the previous year, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a significant drop in cross-border terrorist attacks and violence-linked fatalities has been recorded in Pakistan since it closed down the border with Afghanistan, a Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) annual security report revealed.

“Terrorist attacks went down by almost 17% in December, preceded by 9% decline in November. Terrorist violence-linked fatalities among civilians and security officials also fell in the last quarter of 2025, by nearly 4% and 19% each in November and December, respectively, as per the data collected by the CRSS.

The Pak-Afghan border was shut down for all kinds of trade and other activities on October 11, following the cross-border attacks by terrorists and Afghan forces which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The border closure also brought trade activities and pedestrian movement to a standstill. Islamabad says closures curb militant movement; Kabul denies providing safe haven to the militants.