11 'militants' killed, five cops injured in KP terror spate.

PESHAWAR / D.I. KHAN -- A day after Pakistan vowed to take pre-emptive measures to avert terrorist attacks, security forces killed 11 militants, including a key commander of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, in a raid in South Waziristan, while two separate attacks targeting police in Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan left five officials injured.

In an intelligence-based operation in Wana, the security forces raided a hideout of TTP militants and killed at least 11 terrorists, including TTP commander Hafizullah alongside two would-be suicide bombers, said the military's media wing.

The operation 'foiled a major terrorist activity', the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Thursday evening.

'During intense exchange of fire, 11 terrorists, including terrorist commander Hafizullah alias Tor Hafiz, and two suicide bombers were killed.

'A huge quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists,' the military's media wing said.

It added that the militants had remained 'actively involvAAed in terrorist activities against security forces and target killing of police in the district'.

Slain TTP commander

Local officials said that TTP commander Hafizullah had been involved in attacks on police stations in Azam Warsak, Raghzai, and Wana as well as extortion and kidnapping of locals.

The 40-year-old militant, who belonged to Tojay Khel, a Wazir sub-tribe, had joined Uzbeks in Wana before 2007, when Mullah Nazir, a local militant, and local people joined hands against Uzbek militants to force them out of the area.

'Hafizullah stayed quiet for a while but later joined the banned TTP and went to Afghanistan. He returned to Pakistan after Mullah Nazir was killed in a drone attack, local officials said, claiming that the TTP affiliates had gone to Afghanistan but those who belonged to Wana were allowed to return.

Sources said that those who had returned to Pakistan grouped together after some time under Hafizullah's leadership.

'Hafizullah is believed to have been involved in attacks on security forces after the peace talks betAween the government and the banned outfit failed,' the sources said.

They added Hafizullah escaped an attack following his return from Afghanistan when...