BANNU: At least a dozen terrorists were killed while a man was martyred on Saturday as a fierce clash continued between a police peace committee and militants in the Barakzai Akhundkhel area in Miryan tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district.

District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi confirmed to Dawn that 12 terrorists had been eliminated, while “one [individual] was martyred” and four policemen were injured during the police action.

Bannu Medical Teaching Institution spokesperson Mohammad Noman Khattab said the martyr, along with four others injured, was brought to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Police also confirmed that during the exchange of fire, a retired Federal Constabulary official was martyred, adding that four police personnel and a child were injured.

According to police sources, despite intense firing, the police force displayed bravery and safely reached the police station, while additional personnel were called in to bring the situation fully under control.

Local sources said that a large number of militants are present in the Barkazai area, due to which tensions remain high and intermittent firing continues from both sides.

Contingents from other security forces also reached the site, and search and clearance operations in the area have been intensified further.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement, praised the professionalism and bravery of the KP police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in eliminating the terrorists.

“The sacrifices of our martyrs are a source of pride for the nation, and the country will always remember the services of its brave sons,” the president said.

In his statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the police and CTD for “thwarting the nefarious plans” of the terrorists.

Earlier in the day, Bannu police also averted a major tragedy by defusing a 10-kilogramme remote-controlled bomb planted near Gul Zaman Mosque in Mamash Khel on the Bannu-Miranshah Road.

The bomb disposal squad successfully neutralised the explosive device during a timely operation.

Terrorism resurgence

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek—i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

A day ago, a police official was martyred when unidentified assailants opened fire on him in Khyber district’s Bara tehsil.

Earlier this month, Islamabad issued a “strong demarche” to Afghanistan over the May 10 suicide attack at Bannu’s Fateh Khel police post, which claimed the lives of 15 police personnel.

On May 12, at least nine people, including two traffic policemen, lost their lives while 33 others were injured in a blast in Lakki Marwat. Earlier this week, a tribal chief was among three killed in a blast in Lower South Waziristan’s Wana.

Due to a resurgence of militancy, particularly in KP and Balochistan, where attacks often target security personnel and law enforcement agencies, the state has intensified counter-terrorism operations.

A week ago, police claimed to have eliminated five “high-value targets”, including a TTP commander responsible for the deadly Fateh Khel police post attack.