RAWALPINDI: A major terror plot was thwarted in Rawalpindi as the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three militants linked to Fitna-al-Khawarij during an intelligence-based operation near Chakri on Saturday.
The Punjab police CTD initiated the raid following actionable intelligence about a planned attack. According to a CTD spokesperson, the militants opened fire on security personnel during the operation. In the crossfire, three terrorists were killed, reportedly by their own group’s gunfire, while two others managed to escape.
Recovered from the scene were explosive materials, suicide vests, IEDs, rifles, safety fuses, and ammunition. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The CTD confirmed that the slain militants were planning a significant attack in Rawalpindi. Their identities are being verified. The operation followed a warning from the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which had alerted security forces about possible terrorist activity by Fitna-al-Khawarij, particularly during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest planned for November 24.
Related Operations in KP
The Rawalpindi raid occurred shortly after security forces killed three terrorists in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the Bara area of Khyber district, troops neutralized two militants — Haqyar Afridi (alias Khyberay) and Gulla Jan. Separately, in South Waziristan, security forces intercepted and thwarted a group attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan, killing one terrorist and injuring three others, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement.
Rising Terror Threats
Pakistan has faced an alarming surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
A recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) revealed a 90% rise in fatalities from terrorist violence and counterterrorism operations in the third quarter of 2024. The report documented 722 deaths and 615 injuries in 328 incidents, with KP and Balochistan accounting for 97% of the fatalities.
The security forces remain on high alert to counter the growing threat.
