PESHAWAR – A militant commander, who spent three years hiding in Afghanistan before returning to Pakistan, has been killed in confrontation with police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bara area.
The latest operation was conducted in Bara Shaikhan of Khyber district, in which high value target of Fitna al-Khawarij was eliminated. The suspect was wanted in multiple terrorism cases, including deadly attacks on security personnel, bombings targeting security checkpoints and violent activities that threatened civilian lives.
The confrontation also left two police personnel injured after the suspect allegedly attacked the raiding team with a hand grenade in a desperate attempt to escape.
Saifullah had been operating beyond the reach of Pakistani security agencies for nearly three years after fleeing to Afghanistan to avoid arrest. He had been declared proclaimed offender in several serious criminal and terrorism-related cases.
Police sources claimed that the suspect recently returned to Pakistan after being appointed commander of a militant group, with nefarious plan to rebuild terror networks and coordinating fresh attacks. His return reportedly raised concerns among security agencies monitoring the movement of suspected militants across the Pak-Afghan border.
Authorities suspected that Saifullah was attempting to reconnect with local militant facilitators and restore the operational capabilities of extremist networks previously targeted by counterterrorism forces.
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Saifullah was involved in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks targeting security forces’ checkpoints and a terrorist assault in the Ali Masjid area of Jamrud.
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Officials said these cases had placed him among the most sought-after suspects in the region. His alleged involvement in attacks on security installations and threats to civilian populations had made his capture a priority for counterterrorism authorities.
Bara, Jamrud and neighboring tribal areas have remained strategically important locations for counterterrorism operations because of their proximity to routes used by militant groups.
Security agencies have intensified intelligence-based operations to identify suspected militants, disrupt their movements and dismantle networks allegedly involved in attacks against civilians and security forces. Officials believe Saifullah’s death could weaken efforts by militant groups to restore their operational presence in the district.
