Two Officials Killed; Militants Neutralized in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, Aug 15 (PTI) Two government officials were fatally shot by unidentified gunmen, and three militants from a banned outfit were neutralized in separate incidents in Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to police and security sources on Friday.

In the first incident, gunmen opened fire at a hotel near Mufti Mehmood Hospital on Dera Daraban Bypass Road, in the Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) district, killing two Excise Department officials who were having breakfast.

The hotel owner sustained injuries in the shooting, and the attackers managed to escape the scene.

Police arrived swiftly, secured the area, and initiated a search operation to locate the perpetrators.

Officials noted that several government officials have been targeted in recent months, with banned militant groups active in the province's southern districts.

In a separate incident, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), aided by local police, killed three militants from the banned outfit Fitna-tul-Khawarij during an intelligence-led operation in the Regi Model Town area of Peshawar district.

The operation was launched after receiving intelligence suggesting the militants were planning a terrorist attack near the border area between Khyber district and Peshawar.

When intercepted by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team late Thursday night, the militants opened fire, prompting a return of fire that resulted in their deaths.

One of the deceased militants was identified as Abdullah, alias Jawad, an Afghan national wanted in multiple terrorism-related cases.

The identities of the other two are under verification.

The CTD recovered weapons and explosives from the scene.