PESHAWAR: Police killed four militants belonged to Commander Zahid group of Fitna al Khawarij during in an early morning operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Friday.
The intelligence-based operation was carried out jointly by police from Karak and Kohat districts in the Khattak Dam area along the Karak-Kohat border, District Police Officer (DPO) Imran Chitrali said.
The suspects opened fire on the police team after security forces moved in, triggering a gun battle. Police returned fire, killing all four Khawarij militants, he said.
The killed militants were members of the Commander Zahid group, according to the DPO.
Police said the group was involved in several deadly attacks on law enforcement personnel, including the killings of Banda Daud Shah police station SHO Umar Nawaz in Karak district and Inspector Tahir Nawaz in Kohat district in 2025.
#Khyber #Pakhunkhwa Police in Karak district said Friday four militants were killed in an early morning operation. The Karak and Kohat districts took part in a joint IBO against militants of #Taliban commander Zahid Group at #Khattak Dam area (Karak-Kohat border). Police said the… pic.twitter.com/T3ySpcBzIY
— Tahir Khan (@taahir_khan) July 10, 2026
The group was also involved in the killings of DSP Asad Mahmood, Sub-Inspector Anar Gul, and other police officers in 2026.
Authorities said efforts were underway to confirm the identities of the militants and compile details of their criminal records.
Senior police officials, including DPO Imran Chitrali and Kohat SP Saddar Ehsan Shah, reached the site and supervised a search operation to ensure the area was cleared of any remaining suspects.
Police said operations against militant groups would continue as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorism and maintain security in the region.
