TOBA KAKRI: Security forces arrested four suspected terrorists during an intelligence-based operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan’s Toba Kakri area, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to security sources, weapons including Kalashnikovs, hand grenades, and other firearms were recovered from the suspects. The arrested individuals reportedly confessed to planning a major terrorist attack and admitted to entering Pakistan from Afghanistan three days ago.
The successful operation was carried out with the assistance of the local population, who played a crucial role in identifying and countering the suspects. Security analysts have praised the increasing cooperation between civilians and law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism.
Pakistan has faced a surge in militant activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022. Authorities have repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to take action against militant groups operating from its soil, a claim that Kabul denies.
The arrests come amid heightened security concerns following a deadly blast in Khuzdar that killed five people and injured ten others. Additionally, an attack on Bannu Cantonment earlier this week resulted in the deaths of five soldiers, while security forces killed 16 terrorists in retaliation.
Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in terrorist attacks, ranking second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025. A report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) noted that terrorist incidents rose by 45% over the past year, resulting in 1,081 fatalities.
Balochistan remains a hotspot for violence, with February alone recording 32 attacks that claimed 56 lives, including civilians, security personnel, and militants. In response, security forces have ramped up counter-terrorism operations, eliminating 156 militants and arresting 66 suspects in recent months.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to tackling terrorism and strengthening border security to curb cross-border infiltration and militant activities.
