PESHAWAR: Five suspected Islamic State Khorasan Province militants, including a senior commander wanted over several major attacks, were killed during a Counter-Terrorism Department operation on the outskirts of Peshawar.
The raid was carried out near Shamshatoo Camp in the Armar area after intelligence indicated that militants were using a compound near the Kabul English Language Centre to plan attacks on sensitive installations, imambargahs and churches. CTD teams surrounded the compound before entering, with officials saying the militants opened fire and were killed in the ensuing exchange.
Among those killed was Imran, alias Abdullah, also known as Bilal and Abu Bakr. Authorities said he was wanted in connection with the Tarlai imambargah suicide bombing in Islamabad, as well as the killings of religious scholar Maulana Khan Zeb and former senator Hidayatullah. A reward of Rs12 million had reportedly been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Security personnel recovered an SMG, hand grenades, a locally manufactured improvised explosive device and other weapons from the hideout. The CTD said the group had been preparing additional attacks before the operation was launched.