The swift response of security forces thwarted a significant sabotage attempt in Rawalpindi, killing three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) near Chakri. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) conducted the operation, but two militants managed to escape.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation targeted terrorists based on intelligence reports. During the raid, the militants opened fire, but were ultimately killed by gunfire from their own group. The forces recovered a cache of explosives, suicide vests, safety fuse wires, rifles, IEDs, and ammunition from the scene. A search operation is underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The CTD confirmed that the killed militants had been planning a large-scale attack in Rawalpindi, though their identities are yet to be verified. The operation followed an alert issued by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), warning of potential terrorist activities by Fitna al-Khawarij during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on November 24. The alert indicated that major cities were at risk.
Separately, security forces neutralized three terrorists in two operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 21-22, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. In Bara, Khyber District, an IBO eliminated two militants, identified as Haqyar Afridi (alias Khyberay) and Gulla Jan. In South Waziristan, troops intercepted and engaged a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan, killing one and injuring three others.
The country has faced an uptick in terrorist incidents targeting civilians and security forces, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlighted a 90% surge in terrorism-related fatalities in the third quarter of 2024, with 722 deaths and 615 injuries reported across 328 incidents. KP and Balochistan accounted for 97% of the fatalities.
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