Matta | Pakistan

SWAT: A policeman has been martyred and four terrorists have been killed during an ongoing operation in Swat’s Matta tehsil, police and security said on Wednesday. An initial statement issued by Swat police spokesperson Nasir Iqbal Karimi said Elite Force Constable Gulfam had embraced martyrdom while “bravely fighting the terrorists” on Tuesday night during the operation. Later, security sources said four terrorists had also been killed in the operation, while the operation being carried out by the Pakistan Army, police and other security agencies was ongoing. The sources said four other terrorists had taken refuge inside a house and were using its residents as human shields. They added that the terrorists belonged to Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. According to the sources, police had gained control of an important strategic location in Matta’s Rashid Sar area during the operation. For the past several months, there have been reports of the presence o...

A roadside bomb blast was reported on Wednesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shakardara area in Matta (Swat district), damaging Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mumtaz Ali Khan’s vehicle. Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Umar told Dawn, “After the incident, the police reached the spot and began a search operation, which is still underway.” According to the official, Khan was on his way to attend a funeral when a pre-planted bomb exploded 300 feet away from his house. However, no casualties have been reported. DPO Umar said that the Swat police were ready to deal with all kinds of situations. Khan was also the senior vice president of the ANP. The party’s central president, Aimal Wali Khan, in a statement on social media, condemned the attack. “The people of Swat have made unparalleled sacrifices against terrorism and extremism,” said ANP’s post on X. “This recent incident clearly shows that terrorists are attempting to silence those voices that speak for peace, tolerance, and democracy through organise...