Nine Terrorists Killed, DPO Wounded in Intense Hangu Clash

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In a fierce gunbattle in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan’s security forces neutralized nine terrorists on July 19, 2025, while District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Khalid and two other officers were injured. The operation, targeting militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), underscores Pakistan’s relentless fight against terrorism amid a rising wave of attacks in the region.

The joint operation, involving KP Police and Frontier Corps (FC), was launched in the Zargari and Shinwari areas of Hangu district following intelligence about TTP militants, referred to as “Fitna-e-Hindustan” by authorities, hiding in mountainous terrain. A heavy exchange of fire erupted, during which DPO Khalid, leading from the front, sustained three bullet wounds, and Station House Officer (SHO) Nabi Khan and a military officer were also injured. “DPO Khalid’s condition is stable, and his morale remains high,” Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed told reporters, as reported by Dawn. All injured officers were rushed to Kohat Combined Military Hospital (CMH), with Khalid later airlifted to Peshawar for advanced care, per The Frontier Post.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the Hangu police, stating, “Under DPO Khalid’s command, the team displayed immense courage, eliminating nine terrorists,” in a call reported by Associated Press of Pakistan. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur praised the officers’ valor, saying, “DPO Khalid confronted terrorists head-on, displaying remarkable bravery,” according to Arab News. The operation, described as ongoing, saw a curfew imposed and additional forces deployed to prevent militant retaliation.