One police constable has been martyred while four militants, including two wanted commanders, have been killed in separate Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

In the first operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Monday that security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district where two militants, including a key commander and a suicide bomber, were killed after an exchange of fire.

“After intense exchange of fire, two khwarij, belonging to Indian sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij, including Kharji Ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar, along with a suicide bomber were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.

A suicide jacket, weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operation.

The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to the military’s media wing, Waheedullah was among the most wanted militants due to his involvement in several attacks that led to the killing of security personnel and civilians.

The ISPR stated that he was also the main handler of the suicide bomber involved in the February 21 attack in Bannu district in which Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz was martyred.

“The operation indeed avenged the heinous act and brought the main perpetrator to justice,” the statement added, noting that the timely action of security forces also prevented a major incident.

A sanitisation operation is still underway in the area to clear any remaining militants, the ISPR said, adding that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam would continue.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the successful operation.

According to Radio Pakistan, both leaders said that the killing of the militant commander and the suicide attacker reflected the professionalism and bravery of the forces.

President Zardari said that while Pakistan was working for regional and global peace, its enemies were trying to disrupt those efforts through terrorism.

He stated that Pakistan would defeat anti-peace and anti-Islam conspiracies and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eliminating terrorism.

PM Shehbaz also repeated that the government’s resolve to remove terrorism from the country.

In another operation carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) near the Bannu border in the Akhundan forest civil camp area, two more militants were killed, including another wanted commander.

A CTD spokesperson said that the police launched a targeted intelligence-based operation in the border area adjoining Bannu district, where heavy firing took place between law enforcement personnel and militants linked to Fitna al Khawarij.

Two militants were killed while several others were injured. However, some managed to escape by using the darkness and forest cover.

During the operation, Frontier Reserve Police constable Atiqur Rehman was martyred.

The CTD said he embraced martyrdom “while displaying exceptional courage and sacrifice for the country.”

Among those killed was wanted commander Amir Sohail alias Aqabi, also known as Omar Khattab, a resident of Lakki Marwat.

He was wanted in several CTD cases, including targeted killings, attacks on police and security forces, bomb blasts and other serious offences.

Officials said that a large search operation involving police, CTD teams and armoured vehicles is still ongoing in the area.