Police in the Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) region are on high alert amid reports of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) forming a new wing dedicated to targeting Punjab police personnel, aiming to expand its influence into the province. Specifically, three check posts in DG Khan, namely Lakhani, Jhangi, and Triman, are considered vulnerable to potential attacks from this emerging TTP wing.

Military and civil agencies have collaborated to devise a strategy to counter the threat posed by the new TTP wing, responsible for recent deadly attacks on law enforcement personnel in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The outfit, named ‘Istrna,’ has reportedly gained notoriety, with intelligence reports suggesting an increase in its strength from 10-12 militants to around 50.

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A senior official revealed that the Istrna wing used local hostages as human shields to infiltrate DG Khan’s territory during an attack on the Jhangi border post of Vohawa police station in Taunsa Circle. There are indications that local tribal people provided food supplies to these militants. Additionally, the group has reportedly made connections with the notorious Ladi criminal gang in the Kutcha area, inviting them to join forces for attacks on police check posts.

The official disclosed that the militants strategically planned an attack on the Jhangi check post after KP police retreated from several border check posts located near DG Khan. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Pakistan Army has increased its presence in the troubled areas of DI Khan to counter both the TTP wing and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militancy.

Highlighting the challenges faced by the local police, the official noted that the recent attack on the Jhangi check post exposed inadequacies in the police force. The militants, better equipped with the latest ammunition, have raised concerns about the safety of local police personnel. DG Khan police lack an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) for safe transportation in combat zones, relying on an APC from the 1980s, which is considered unsafe for transporting personnel in the complex hilly terrain of DG Khan.

Confirming the existence of the new TTP group, DG Khan Regional Police Officer Sajjad Hussain Manj stated that local police are utilizing all available resources to trace and eliminate these militants.