PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reported a significant surge in militant activities in the province this year.
The CTD reported 917 incidents of terrorism with 1,085 militants arrested and 367 killed in intelligence-based operations in KP, a province which shares a long border with Afghanistan, where Taliban rules the country since 2021.
According to an official report released on Saturday, 114 police personnel and 176 civilians embraced martyrdom in terrorist attacks across the province during 2024.
The CTD said its Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) Teams have been deployed across 14 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These specialized units, equipped with modern weaponry and advanced training, conduct intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorist networks and their facilitators.
To strengthen the investigation process, the department has modernized its forensic and analytical capabilities. A digital forensic laboratory equipped with fingerprint systems, state-of-the-art digital tools, and staffed by 11 forensic scientists is now operational. The lab has helped solve more than 267 cases so far.
The CTD further noted that its Provincial Data Collection and Mining Center has traced 267 cases through technical means since early 2024, while a similar number of cases have been handed over to investigation teams for further action.
Meanwhile, the Crime Scene Unit (CSU) of the CTD has completed 572 investigations this year, with digital mapping technologies playing a key role in improving the speed and accuracy of inquiries.
The report underscores the evolving counterterrorism framework in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where advanced technology, intelligence coordination, and rapid-response teams are being integrated to counter the persistent threat of militancy.
Yesterday, the security forces had killed 18 terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij militants multiple operations in Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan.
At least eight militants of Fitna al Khawarij militants were killed in Sultan Khel area of Lakki Marwat.
At least six terrorists associated with Fitna al Khawarij were killed in an intelligence based operation by the security forces in Datta Khel, while four, including a suicide bomber, were killed during an attack on a military camp in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan.
