ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Six terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Friday.

A damaged house is seen after an attack in the Bannu district of northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on March 5, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

The operation was conducted in Lakki Marwat district after authorities received credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area, according to a CTD statement.

The terrorists opened fire on the CTD team during the raid, triggering an exchange of fire that lasted around 40 minutes, the statement said.

Following the gun battle, security forces found six terrorists dead while several others managed to escape.

Police recovered a cache of weapons and explosives from the terrorists, including Kalashnikov rifles, hand grenades and an improvised explosive device.

Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Zulfiqar Hameed commended the CTD personnel for the successful operation and reiterated the police's resolve to continue operations against militant groups in the province.

Earlier in the day, seven police personnel were killed when an explosion targeted a police vehicle in the district.