Peshawar CTD Operation Kills Five Terrorists in Major Security Raid

Peshawar – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – A Peshawar CTD operation has killed five terrorists, including a top commander who was wanted in twenty terrorism cases. The raid took place in the Shamshatoo Camp area of the city.

Officials said the slain commander, identified as Imran, carried a bounty of Rs120 million on his head. He was accused of killing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Khan Zeb, Senator Hidayatullah, and Rehan Zeb.

The Counter Terrorism Department also linked Imran to the suicide attack on the Tarlai Imambargah. Police called him the alleged mastermind behind that deadly bombing.

Another militant killed in the raid was Shahidullah. He is said to have carried out reconnaissance ahead of the same suicide attack.

During the operation, security teams recovered an SMG, four pistols, two hand grenades, and an improvised explosive device from the group. The weapons haul points to a well-armed cell operating in the area.

This action comes just a week after a wider security push across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Between September 3 and 5, security forces killed at least 21 India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij fighters in separate clashes, according to the ISPR.

Fifteen militants died while troops stopped an infiltration bid, and ten more were killed later after being trapped in the same area. That brought the total to 25 militants neutralised in that single push.

Violence has been rising in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since the Afghan Taliban took power in 2021. A new report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies shows both provinces made up nearly 96 percent of all violence-related deaths in the second quarter of 2026.

KP alone recorded 475 deaths, more than 61 percent of the total, while Balochistan saw 265 deaths, or 34 percent. KP also led in the number of attacks, with 151 incidents compared to 94 in Balochistan.

Officials say more operations are planned to target militant hideouts across the province. Authorities urge residents to report suspicious activity to CTD helplines.