ATTOCK: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan’s Punjab police has killed five “Indian sponsored” terrorists during an intelligence-based counterterrorism operation conducted near Attock on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the CTD said the operation was launched in the Mankor area after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij, involved in planning attacks across Punjab.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a term used by the state to refer to the terrorist groups—particularly factions of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group—that carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
The spokesperson said the CTD personnel moved to the location, where the terrorists opened fire, triggering an intense exchange with law enforcement forces.
He added that CTD teams responded effectively, resulting in the killing of all five terrorists.
A large cache of weapons, explosives, and hand grenades was recovered from the site after the operation. Preliminary assessments suggest the individuals were linked to plans for carrying out terrorist activities in the province, he said.
He further noted that the operation was based on sensitive intelligence regarding the suspects’ movements and operational planning.
Following the raid, authorities launched a broader search operation in the border areas of Attock to track down any remaining suspects, facilitators, or accomplices who may have escaped.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Counter Terrorism Department for carrying out a successful operation against terrorists.
In their separate statements, they lauded the professionalism and courage of CTD personnel for their action against the terrorists and described it as an important step towards safeguarding national security
They expressed resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations from the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in cross-border terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to take decisive and credible action against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan; however, the Taliban regime failed to curb terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, particularly the TTP.
Afghanistan continues to remain a major regional security concern due to the presence of terrorist groups.
TTP is involved in various terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, as the terrorist group enjoys support from the Taliban regime and freely operates in Afghanistan.
According to reports, some Afghan Taliban commanders are acting as facilitators for TTP terrorists, helping them regroup after attacks inside Pakistan.
