Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department arrested 18 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in Punjab during intelligence-based operations last month.
Lahore
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police announced on Saturday that it has arrested 18 militants, most of whom are associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), during a series of intelligence-based operations across the province. The operations, conducted over the past month in coordination with an intelligence agency, successfully thwarted major terror plots aimed at key government buildings and installations in multiple cities.
According to the official statement, the CTD’s operations were spread across several districts of Punjab, reflecting an intensified counter-terrorism drive against militant networks. During the raids, authorities recovered 3.02 kilograms of explosives, 14 detonators, 33 feet of safety fuse wire, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These materials were allegedly meant for planned attacks that could have caused significant damage and loss of life.
In addition to the explosive materials, pamphlets of banned organisations, extremist publications, mobile phones, and cash were also seized from the arrested individuals. The CTD stated that the militants were in the advanced stages of planning coordinated attacks and that their apprehension has prevented potential large-scale violence in urban centers.
Officials confirmed that investigations are underway to identify the wider network and sources of funding behind the group’s operations in Punjab. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, especially as authorities remain vigilant against renewed militant activity from TTP factions operating along the country’s borders and within urban regions.
The CTD reiterated its commitment to maintaining security across Punjab and assured the public that proactive intelligence-sharing and rapid-response measures would continue to neutralize any emerging terror threats.
