Pakistan security forces kill suspected mastermind of Kohat police lines attack

LAKKI MARWAT: Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces have killed a suspected militant identified as Zahid Gul during a joint intelligence-based operation in the Frontier Region (FR) of Lakki Marwat, according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CTD.

LAKKI MARWAT: Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces have killed a suspected militant identified as Zahid Gul during a joint intelligence-based operation in the Frontier Region (FR) of Lakki Marwat, according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CTD.

In a statement reported on October 16 the CTD said Zahid Gul was the alleged mastermind behind a suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines. Authorities claimed he had guided a vehicle carrying explosives during the attack.

According to the department Gul was wanted in connection with several other serious incidents including alleged involvement in a bank robbery in Billi Tang in which Rs6 million was stolen.

The CTD said the money taken during the robbery was distributed among militant groups operating in the Baka Khel and Jani Khel areas of Bannu. These claims were attributed to the department’s account of the operation.

Officials also alleged that Gul maintained close links with the Gul Bahadur militant group and had been involved in transporting suicide attackers to Kohat for planned attacks.

The CTD further stated that approximately two months before the latest operation, Gul had brought a suspected suicide attacker to target the new Kohat Police Lines. According to the department that planned attack was foiled.

The joint operation was described as intelligence-based although the report did not provide further details about its timing, the circumstances of the encounter or whether any other suspects were arrested or killed.

The development comes amid continued counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security agencies have targeted individuals suspected of involvement in militant attacks and other violent incidents.

Authorities have identified the deceased as a key suspect linked to multiple cases. Further details about the operation and the evidence supporting the allegations were not included in the report.