The Karakoram Highway (KKH) traffic was normal after a security operation in an area far from the main road and Babusar-Naran highway on Thursday evening, the Gilgit Baltistan spokesperson said.

In a statement, Faizullah Firaq said that a “high-profile” terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces during a raid in the area to arrest a Hudar tragedy suspect.

At least eight people were killed and 26 others injured in a shooting at a passenger bus on December 2 in the GB’s Diamer district.

Unidentified gunmen had opened fire at a passenger bus in the Hudar Pari point of the Chilas area in Diamir, leaving eight people dead on the spot. Two soldiers are also among the killed, who were going to their hometowns on vacations, an official had said.

The GB government spokesperson clarified that the main roads have not been officially closed and traffic was moving as usual. “A targeted operation was conducted far from the Karakoram Highway and Babusar Naran Road to apprehend a suspect linked to the Hudar incident. This operation resulted in an exchange of fire, and the main commander involved in the incident was killed,” he said.

“The situation has now returned to normal and there are no large-scale operations ongoing. Life is back to routine and the security perimeter has been expanded,” Firaq added.