Pakistan: Karachi CTD operation leads to arrest of suicide bomber

Karachi (Terror Monitor) The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi has arrested an alleged suicide bomber linked to the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), officials said.

According to CTD officials, the arrested suspect was a close associate of wanted terrorist Zafran.

The CTD spokesperson said the suspect, along with his accomplices, had carried out an armed attack in Karachi’s SITE area targeting foreign nationals working there, injuring several people.

Officials further stated that a suicide vest, along with photographs and maps of sensitive locations, were recovered from the suspect’s possession. Zafran, the wanted militant linked to the group, was previously killed in an encounter with CTD forces and carried a bounty of Rs10 million.

CTD said the arrested suspect, identified as Salman, and his associates had been sent to Karachi to carry out a major suicide attack. Some of his accomplices were expected to arrive in the city later.

According to officials, one of the suspect’s associates was killed in a 2025 suicide attack on the Frontier Corps in Quetta, while another was killed last year in a suicide bombing at the Dera Ismail Khan Police Training Centre.

The suspect reportedly received suicide bombing training in Afghanistan and allegedly came to Karachi on the orders of Molvi Mukhles Yar along with his associate Adil alias Asadullah. The plan, according to investigators, included targeted killings followed by suicide attacks in Karachi.

The CTD said joint teams have been formed to arrest remaining accomplices and facilitators, while raids are continuing at multiple locations. Investigations are ongoing.