ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s counterterrorism police on Saturday said 13 suspected militants were arrested with weapons and explosives in 58 intelligence-based operations across Punjab province, saying they were planning to target offices of law enforcement agencies.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in militant attacks in recent years, particularly by the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in the southwestern Balochistan province.
A suspected TTP militant arrested in Lahore with a large quantity of explosives was among those detained along with members of other militant groups, according to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
“The CTD in Punjab province has foiled a major terror plot by arresting 13 terrorists belonging to various banned organizations during operations in different areas of Punjab,” the CTD said in a statement.
“Dangerous terrorist Mukhtar of Fitna-ul-Khawarij arrested from Lahore with a large quantity of explosives,” it added. “Mukhtar belongs to a different area.”
Pakistan’s military frequently uses “Fitna-al-Khawarij” for the TTP and “Fitna-al-Hindustan,” to describe the BLA and other separatist outfits.
Around 2,010 grams of explosives, eight detonators, 15 feet of safety fuse wire, four improvised explosive devices, pamphlets and magazines of banned organizations, mobile phones, and cash were recovered from the suspects.
The CTD added that the suspected militants belonged to Lahore, Jhang, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Chiniot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Mianwali.
It said 1,487 combing operations were also conducted separately with the assistance of local police and security agencies, resulting in the arrest of 168 suspects.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused Indian intelligence agencies of financing militants to carry out attacks in Pakistan, and Afghanistan of providing them safe havens. New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegations.
