PESHAWAR: Eight police personnel suffered minor injuries on Wednesday during a counterterror operation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, police said in a statement.
The gunbattle between police and militants took place in the northwestern Karak district, as police launched a search-and-strike operation to maintain law and order in the province.
The operation was being carried out jointly by police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) when “terrorists” opened fire on the police party from an upper mountain range, Karak Police said.
“Reports indicate that several terrorists were killed or injured in the intense exchange of fire,” the statement said.
“As a result of the terrorist attack, eight police personnel sustained minor injuries and were immediately shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.”
Additional police contingents, led by District Police Officer (DPO) Karak Imran Khan, swiftly reached the scene after receiving information about the attack.
Police said a pursuit, search and clearance operation was launched in the area to track the “terrorists.”
“Security has also been further tightened at all entry and exit points,” police said.
While Karak Police did not mention who was responsible for the incident, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against law enforcers and civilians in KP province.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering TTP militants, a charge Kabul vehemently denies. The surge in attacks in Pakistan has soured ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2021 when the Afghan Taliban seized power.
