Pakistan: CTD Arrests 13 Suspected Terrorists in Punjab

LAHORE (Terror Monitor) — Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested 13 suspected terrorists during intelligence-based operations across Punjab province, recovering explosives, hand grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonators and other materials, according to a CTD spokesperson.

The spokesperson said one of the suspects, identified as Wajid, was arrested in Pakpattan and was allegedly associated with India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The allegation has not been independently verified.

According to the CTD, the arrested suspects include Usman, Naeem, Abdul Mannan, Wajid, Osama, Hassan and Babar. The department’s statements contained some inconsistencies in the listing of names, and a complete, verified list of all 13 suspects was not immediately available.

During the operations, security personnel recovered explosive materials, one hand grenade, three improvised explosive devices, 12 detonators and 35 feet of fuse wire, the spokesperson said.

The CTD said 13 cases had been registered against the arrested suspects. However, the authorities did not immediately provide further details about the specific charges against each individual or identify the locations of all the arrests.

More Than 1,500 Combating Operations Conducted

Separately, the CTD reported conducting 1,595 combing operations across Punjab during the week, during which 55,416 people were checked and 52 suspects were arrested.

Combing operations generally involve searches and security checks in designated areas to identify suspected militants, investigate potential security threats and locate individuals wanted in connection with criminal or terrorist activities.

The department did not specify whether the 52 arrests reported during the combing operations included any of the 13 suspects mentioned in its separate announcement.

The CTD said it would continue its operations as part of its efforts to achieve its stated objective of maintaining a secure Punjab.

The arrests and reported recoveries come amid continuing counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan, where authorities regularly conduct intelligence-based raids, search operations and investigations into suspected militant networks.

The allegations against the arrested individuals, including the reported links between Wajid and India's RAW intelligence agency, remain allegations by Pakistani authorities. Further information about the evidence, the suspects' alleged activities and the legal proceedings was not immediately available.