Two officers among 6 martyred, 8 terrorists killed in Hangu fire exchange: ISPR

Two officers among 6 martyred, 8 terrorists killed in Hangu fire exchange: ISPR.

Key points

• News Desk Published September 20, 2026 Updated September 20, 2026 10: 12pm.
• Two officers and four others were martyred while eight terrorists were killed in a fire exchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district on Sunday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) remarked.
• KP witnessed an growth in terrorist attacks in August compared with July, according to monthly data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
• The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
• On July 30, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was among nine cops martyred and 28 others were injured after terrorists attacked the Khazina Banda checkpost in Hangu.

News Desk Published September 20, 2026 Updated September 20, 2026 10: 12pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

During an intense fire exchange between a "security forces convoy and Khwarij ", 23-year-old Captain Abuzar Farooq from Gujranwala and 22-year-old Lieutenant Sheraz Babar of Chakwal, "who were leading their troops from the front, fought gallantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom along with their four men".

According to images published by ISPR, the other four men comprised three sepoys and a "non-combatant".

By contrast, "eight Khwarij belonging to Indian- Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops", the ISPR statement continued.

For context, the state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

For context, a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist discovered in the area, ISPR stated.

It affirmed that the "relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision 'Azm-I- Istehkam' (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign- and supported terrorism from the country".

"These sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs, " the military's media wing stated.

Sunday's development comes two days after a two-pronged assault near a mosque in the old Police Lines of KP's Kohat district asserted 23 lives, including those of 17 policemen. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation introduced to clear the area.

On August 7, a captain was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Hangu.

On July 30, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was among nine cops martyred and 28 others were injured after terrorists attacked the Khazina Banda checkpost in Hangu. Days afterwards, security forces were noted to have killed the mastermind behind the attack.

In short, two officers among 6 martyred, 8 terrorists killed in Hangu fire exchange: is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.