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A policeman and a volunteer were martyred, while five people including a child, sustained injuries during the operation.
The K-P police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), local peace committees, and security forces carried out the operation in the Barkzai Akhundkhel area of Bannu district's Miryan Tehsil after receiving intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists.
According to sources, the terrorists opened intense fire from multiple positions as soon as the operation began, triggering heavy clashes that continued for several hours.
Police and peace committee members put up strong resistance and effectively engaged the militants during the operation. During the exchange of fire, one police official and a retired Frontier Corps (FC) personnel as well as two citizen were also martyred.
Among the injured were a child and a station house officer (SHO), along with other people bringing the total number of injured to five.
According to Muhammad Nauman Khattak, spokesperson for the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI), the bodies of a retired FC personnel and a police official were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Several injured police officers were also brought to the hospital. Some of the injured are in critical condition, he added. K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said Bannu police demonstrated bravery and professionalism, inflicting significant damage on a major militant network.
"The morale of K-P police remains high. Every sacrifice will be made to ensure peace in the province," he said in a statement.
Police sources said among those killed was the most-wanted commander Abdullah Afghani, who was involved in attacks on police and other serious terrorist cases. A video of Afghani had gone viral a few days earlier in which he was seen issuing threats to security institutions.
The operation was supervised by the SP Rural Bannu, two SDPOs, and the SP CTD.
Peace committees from Bannu and Lakki Marwat also actively participated in the raid. Sources said contingents of the Pakistan Army reached the area and, in coordination with police, continued search and clearance operations.
In a separate but related development, Bannu police successfully defused a 10-kilogramme remote-controlled bomb planted near Gul Zaman Mosque in the Mamash Khel area along the Bannu–Miranshah road, averting a major disaster.
Security forces later cordoned off the area and intensified search operations, while establishing strict checkpoints at all entry and exit points. The situation in the area remained tense, and fear and panic persisted among local residents, sources said.
Separately, at least nine terrorists were eliminated during a fierce gun battle on the outskirts of Quetta. Four personnel of the CTD also laid down their lives during the fight.
The CTD and security forces carried out a high-stakes intelligence-based operation in the suburban localities of Kuchlak and Nohsar on Saturday.
During the operation, which involved an intense exchange of fire, the LEAs killed at least nine terrorists. However, four security officials were also martyred.
Several officials also sustained injuries during the shootout and are currently receiving specialized medical care in the provincial capital.
Later, Balochistan Chief Minister's Assistant for Political and Media Affairs Shahid Rind said the successful raid demonstrated the professional capabilities and readiness of the LEAs.
Expressing profound grief over the losses, Rind paid rich tribute to the fallen personnel, emphasizing that they laid down their lives to protect public peace and that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.
He said the provincial government has directed health authorities to ensure that the wounded personnel are provided with the best possible medical facilities for a swift recovery
President hails LEAs
President Asif Ali Zardari appreciated the K-P and the CTD for carrying out a successful intelligence-based operation against terrorists in District Bannu. He also paid homage to the police official who embraced martyrdom while courageously fighting the terrorists.
"The sacrifices of our martyrs are a source of pride for the nation, and the country will always remember the services of its brave sons," the president added."Modern drone surveillance and advanced technology were deployed to monitor the movement and possible hideouts of terrorist elements, while the area was completely cordoned off," he said.
IGP said that one police official was martyred during the exchange of fire, while another sustained injuries and was shifted to the hospital for immediate medical treatment.
During the operation in Bannu, Abdullah — described by authorities as a key commander of the banned Fitna al-Khawarij — was killed, officials said. He was wanted in multiple cases, including attacks on police personnel and other serious offences.
Days before the operation, a video allegedly showing Abdullah had circulated on social media, in which he could be seen issuing threats and challenging security institutions.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Separately, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was also recovered near Azad Mandi on Miranshah Road and defused through timely action.
IGP praised the courage, bravery, and professional expertise of the Bannu Police and CTD teams, saying "K-P police possessed full capability to crush the evil intentions of terrorists on every front."
"The brave personnel have once again proved their readiness to make every sacrifice for the protection of the nation," he added.
The IGP also announced special rewards for the police team that participated in the operation.
He reaffirmed that operations against the Fitna al-Khawarij and anti-peace elements would continue with greater intensity, warning that every attack by the enemy would be responded to forcefully.
"K-P Police is standing on the frontline for the protection of the lives and property of the public," he said, reiterating the resolve to continue operations without interruption until the complete elimination of terrorism.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the police and CTD over the successful operation, praising their bravery and professionalism for "sending eight terrorists of Fitna al-Khawarij to hell."
"K-P police and CTD foiled the evil designs of the Khawarij through timely action," said Naqvi. "Salute to the entire team of police and CTD for bringing the terrorists to a dreadful end," he added.
The minister also paid tribute to the police official who was martyred while confronting the terrorists, expressing heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family of the slain officer.
K-P has been battling terrorism since the United States' ouster from Afghanistan, with terrorists often crossing the border to target police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of several officials and personnel.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, in a report, said that 85 verified terrorist attacks were recorded in April, down from 146 in March, marking a 42% decline, while fatalities from such attacks fell from 106 to 60, extending a downward trajectory that had begun in the previous month.
The report attributed the improvement to Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against terrorist groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which later gave way to a suspension of hostilities and talks in Urumqi, China.
The operation, named Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, had been launched following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.
Despite the decline in attacks, overall combat-related deaths, including those from militant violence and security operations, stood at 291 in April.Militants accounted for 224 of these deaths, representing 77% of the total.
The remaining casualties included 28 security personnel, 37 civilians and two members of pro-government peace committees.