Three officers martyred in IBO against militants in Shangla

WEB DESK: In an intelligence-led operation against a high-threat militant network, three personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police embraced martyrdom during a fierce exchange of fire in the Kabalgram area of Shangla district on 16 February 2026. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) confirmed that the operation resulted in the elimination of three militants, including a senior commander listed in the CTD Red Book.

Operation in Kabalgram

Acting upon credible intelligence regarding an organised militant ‘tashkeel’ concealed within natural cave complexes, CTD Swat, in coordination with local police, launched a targeted strike in the mountainous terrain of Kabalgram.

According to The Express Tribune, Officials stated that the group posed a serious threat to law enforcement personnel and to strategic infrastructure, including projects involving Chinese nationals along the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

As security forces advanced towards the suspected hideouts, they encountered heavy resistance. Militants reportedly opened sustained fire and employed rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) from positions shielded by steep cliff formations. In the ensuing gun battle, three militants were neutralised. One was identified as Noor Islam, also known by the aliases Salman and Khog Bacha, a former member of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who carried a bounty of Rs5 million. Another militant detonated himself during the exchange, while the third has yet to be formally identified. Following a measured and disciplined response, security teams executed a tactical withdrawal due to the challenging terrain and the risk of reinforcements facilitated from nearby villages.

Separate Blast in Bannu

Despite the tactical success in Shangla, the operation came at a heavy cost. The martyred officers Maqbool Ahmad, Fida and Saeedur Rehman were laid to rest with full official honours at the Alpuri police lines. The funeral prayers were attended by senior police officials, district administrators and members of the public, who paid tribute to the fallen and reaffirmed their resolve to continue efforts against militancy. An Elite Force official was also injured during the confrontation.

In a separate incident on the same day, a motorcycle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near a police station in the Maryan area of Bannu district. Although the police station appeared to be the intended target, the blast claimed the lives of two civilians, including a child, and injured 14 others. Authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, and investigations are under way amid concerns over a renewed surge in militant activity in parts of the province.

The twin incidents underscore the persistent security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where intelligence-driven operations continue as part of broader efforts to safeguard public security and critical national infrastructure.