In a major development, counter-terrorism officials have arrested more than 170 most wanted terrorists in an undercover operation spanning more than 11 months in the country’s largest province, Punjab.
JEE News Investigation Unit accessed official documents, which revealed that Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had last year targeted the Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan and other local militant groups. Started secret operations against.
CTD officials revealed that many terrorists were killed in these operations.
According to the documents, 22 Al-Qaeda members were arrested in 40 operations in South Punjab.
Authorities also arrested 41 IS terrorists in 35 operations, while four operatives of the IS-Khorasan group were arrested as a result of intelligence-led operations.
CTD teams also arrested 89 operatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during these operations conducted in various cities of Punjab.
Among those arrested are 10 members of TTP Ghazi group, 8 operatives of banned Lashkar Jhangvi and one belonging to 313 Brigade.
CTD officials, speaking to JEE News on condition of anonymity, revealed that around two dozen terrorists were in touch with their handlers in Afghanistan and Syria. He claimed that these attackers were planning to target sensitive installations in South Punjab.
CTD team arrested Waleed Asif working for al-Qaeda. They seized several magazines from his custody, including Nawai Afghan Jihad, Hateen, Whose Army and other materials.
Among those arrested is Abid Hussain, who is allegedly an IS operative. A banned book Hateen was recovered from his possession, while he was also carrying IS flags.
Another IS operative, Anas Abbas, was also among those arrested.
Islamabad resident Hamad Ahmed, who was allegedly an operative of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, was also arrested. The forces recovered 550 grams of explosives, a six-foot safety fuse, three detonators, an identity card, an ATM card and Rs 4730 from his possession.
