Five suspected militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Attock district, authorities said on Tuesday.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation was launched in the border area of Mankor, a remote locality in Jand tehsil, after security agencies received credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants allegedly planning attacks in Punjab.
The spokesperson said CTD personnel moved into the area based on sensitive intelligence reports about the suspects’ movements and activities. As the team approached the hideout, the militants allegedly opened fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officials.
Following the encounter, all five suspected militants were killed, the CTD said.
Security forces recovered a cache of weapons, hand grenades and explosive materials from the site. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects were allegedly involved in planning terrorist activities within Punjab, according to officials.
Authorities have also launched a search operation in the surrounding border regions of Attock to trace any remaining suspects, facilitators or accomplices who may have escaped during the raid.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the CTD for the successful operation. In a statement carried by state media, he praised the professionalism of the department and acknowledged the efforts of security forces and police personnel in counterterrorism operations.
The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms and said security institutions were achieving important successes in the fight against militancy.
The operation comes amid continued efforts by Pakistani security agencies to prevent militant attacks and dismantle networks involved in planning violence across the country.