Suspected Militants Abduct Army Officer and Three Relatives in Pakistan

Suspected militants have kidnapped four individuals, including Lt Col Khalid Khan, from a mosque in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The kidnapping occurred as Khan attended his father's funeral. No group has claimed responsibility, but efforts are underway to locate them. The incident underscores growing security concerns in the region.

Suspected militants have abducted four individuals, including an army officer, from a mosque in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The kidnapping happened on Wednesday while Lt Col Khalid Khan was receiving mourners after attending his father's funeral, officials said on Thursday.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the abductions of Khan, his two brothers—both government officers—and a nephew. The military and government have not issued any immediate comments on the incident.

According to local police official Ikram Ullah, efforts are actively underway to trace and recover the kidnapped individuals. Though the Pakistani Taliban frequently targets security forces in the northwest, such kidnappings are relatively rare. The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has strengthened its presence in the region since the Afghan Taliban's takeover in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies.)