Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) Counter Terrorism Wing defeated an India-sponsored terrorist plot in Lahore through a joint intelligence-based operation on Wednesday
According to the Punjab CTD spokesperson, on December 9, based on credible information provided by an undercover source, five Afghan terrorists belonging to the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested from Shahdara, Lahore. Explosives, arms, ammunition and funds for terrorism financing were recovered. The plot, orchestrated by Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had planned to set off a bomb near Civil Secretariat Lahore.
They were heading for Punjab Civil Secretariat Lahore to set off bomb blast; they were arrested just before departure.
The arrested terrorists were named Samarkand, Abdul Rehman, Imran, Wazir Gul, and Asmatullah.
Recoveries from them included an IED (Improvised Explosives Device), hand grenades, pistols and ammunition. Pakistani and Afghan currency were also recovered along with cell phones containing videos of sensitive installations, including the Civil Secretariat. Indian visa application forms were also recovered from their belongings, the CTD spokesperson said.
After initial interrogation, the terrorists disclosed that they had come from Afghanistan two months ago. Qari Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, an undercover officer of Afghan Intelligence Agency NDS, met them in Jalalabad, Afghanistan and had given them this assignment. RAW’s officers were also present in meeting and the funds were provided by RAW officials.
A FIR has been registered in Police Station CTD Lahore. Important disclosures are expected during this transnational investigation.
