Swat Police Foil Militant Attack on Chatkekal Post as Bannu Operation Kills Suspect

BANNU/SWAT: Police in Upper Swat foiled an overnight attack on the Chatkekal police post near Jarogo Waterfall after officers returned fire and forced more than a dozen suspected militants to withdraw, officials said.

District Police Officer Mushtaq Ahmad said the attackers surrounded the post late Sunday and opened fire from several directions.

Police personnel responded immediately, according to the DPO. Their return fire forced the attackers to retreat and leave the area.

Initial reports indicated that two suspected militants suffered injuries during the exchange of fire. Security forces have increased surveillance around the area as authorities continue to assess the incident.

DPO Praises Police Response

DPO Mushtaq Ahmad praised the officers stationed at the post for confronting the attack.

He said Swat police would continue to remain on the frontline of efforts against militancy.

The latest incident comes about a week after a suicide bombing near Kabal Police Station killed 17 people, including seven policemen.

The blast occurred while residents were protesting against deteriorating law and order at nearby Kabal Chowk.

Thousands of people later gathered at Nishat Chowk in Mingora to condemn the attack and reaffirm their support for peace in Swat.

Militancy Remains a Challenge in KP

Police and security personnel continue to face attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies showed a sharp increase in security personnel deaths in KP, excluding the merged districts, during July.

According to the organisation, deaths among security personnel rose from 12 in June to 38 in July. Reported militant deaths also increased from 37 to 108 during the same period.

Civilian deaths, however, declined from 26 to seven, according to the data. One peace committee member was also killed.

One Suspected Militant Killed in Bannu

Separately, security personnel killed a suspected militant and detained several others during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district, the Counter-Terrorism Department said.

The operation took place in the Miryan area, including Khanni Kala, Barkazai and nearby locations.

The operation followed directions from KP Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed and was conducted under the supervision of Bannu DPO Capt (retd) Mohammad Furqan Bilal.

According to the CTD, security personnel exchanged fire with suspected militants during the operation.

One unidentified suspect died in the exchange. Authorities moved the body to a medical facility and began the identification process.

Police said they recovered a Kalashnikov, three magazines and a bandolier from the dead suspect.

Search Operations Continue

Law-enforcement personnel also detained several suspects during raids and search operations in the surrounding areas.

Authorities said investigations were continuing to determine the identities and possible links of those detained.

Bannu DPO Mohammad Furqan Bilal praised the participating personnel and said authorities would intensify intelligence-based operations against militants and criminal networks.

The CTD also urged residents to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies and report suspicious individuals or activities.

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Bannu Faces Repeated Security Incidents

Bannu has witnessed a series of security incidents in recent months involving both civilians and security personnel.

Police and security forces have responded with targeted counterterrorism operations across the district and surrounding areas.

Last month, the military said security forces killed 24 suspected militants in Bannu and nearby areas.

Police later reported the death of another suspected militant as the operation continued.

On July 23, security officials said the number of suspected militants killed during the wider operation had reached 48.

The latest operations in Bannu and Swat come amid continuing militant activity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where authorities have pledged to increase intelligence-led operations and strengthen security measures.