KARACHI: Pakistan’s security forces on Monday foiled a major terrorist plot targeting Karachi after seizing more than two tonnes of explosive material and arresting three militants linked to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, is a sprawling port metropolis on the Arabian Sea and the country’s main commercial and financial hub. Home to an estimated population of over 20 million, the megacity drives much of Pakistan’s trade, industry, and economic activity.
Country’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ghulam Azfar Mahesar while briefing media over the incident said the operation was conducted in Karachi’s outskirts at Raees Goth following intelligence reports that militants were planning a large-scale attack on the country’s financial hub.
“One truck, more than thirty large drums and five cylinders filled with explosive material have been seized,” Mahesar said, adding that over 2,000 kilograms of explosives were recovered and safely defused.
He said the raid was carried out jointly by CTD Sindh province, the country’s “premier intelligence agency,” the Intelligence Bureau and the Special Branch after days of surveillance and coordinated planning.
According to Mahesar, intelligence agencies had received information that militants operating some 30 to 40 kilometres from Karachi were preparing attacks aimed at destabilising national security. Officials subsequently focused their operations on the city’s western areas, leading to the identification of the Raees Goth hideout.
“After sustained efforts, our teams traced a location where terrorists had stockpiled a huge quantity of explosives,” he said.
During the initial raid, one suspect was arrested while several others managed to flee. Follow-up operations at six additional locations, based on information obtained during interrogation, led to the arrest of two more suspects and the recovery of additional explosive material.
Mahesar said the arrested militants had revealed links to the Bashir Zeb network of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade.
“All planning related to the attack was done from outside the country,” he said, adding that facilitators and handlers of the network had been identified and further raids were under way to apprehend remaining suspects.
CTD Additional Inspector General Zulfiqar Ali Larik, who was present at the briefing, said the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-sharing and inter-agency coordination in counterterrorism efforts.
Authorities said the explosives included both commercial-grade and military-use materials, which were transported via multiple routes before being consolidated at the Karachi site.
The foiled plot comes amid heightened security concerns in Pakistan, which has seen an uptick in militant activity since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. However, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), terrorist attacks declined by nearly 17 percent in December 2025 and nine percent in November.
Despite the recent monthly decline, CRSS data shows that overall violence in 2025 increased by 34 percent, making it the deadliest year in a decade. The report notes a sustained rise in violence for five consecutive years, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bearing the brunt of attacks, accounting for more than 96 percent of fatalities nationwide.
Sindh province recorded 51 militant incidents in 2025, resulting in 56 deaths and 40 injuries, representing a small but significant share of nationwide violence.
With more than 2,060 deaths recorded during at least 392 security operations last year, militants accounted for over 60 percent of total fatalities, surpassing the combined toll on civilians and security personnel.
CTD officials said investigations into the Karachi plot were ongoing and vowed that all remaining members of the network involved would be brought to justice.
Security experts say the success of the operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and strong inter-agency coordination.
It also reinforces the importance of proactive security measures and public cooperation in sustaining peace, resilience, and public confidence in the city’s safety environment.
