Pakistan, Jan. 14 -- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Wednesday claimed to have killed three terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij - the state's designation for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) - during a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail (DI) Khan.

Read More: CTD rounds up two terrorists from DI Khan - Daily Times

In a statement, the CTD said targeted operations had been intensified following a recent rise in attacks on police personnel across the province. Acting on confirmed intelligence, CTD teams surrounded a suspected hideout early in the morning. The militants allegedly opened fire in an attempt to escape, prompting a retaliatory response in...