Amidst ongoing national efforts to combat terrorism, Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has successfully disrupted a major terror plot. During “Operation Yalghar,” a recent crackdown, six suspected terrorists allegedly linked to India’s Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) were apprehended in Punjab.
At a press conference in Lahore, Punjab AIG Operations Shehzada Sultan, alongside CTD SSP Operations Waqar Azim, revealed that two suspects, Aslam and Akbar Ali, were arrested in Bahawalnagar while acquiring explosives directly from India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Authorities stated that these individuals were in contact with Indian intelligence officers identified as RAW’s Major Ravindra Rathore and Inspector Singh.
This operation underscores Pakistan’s consistent concerns regarding India’s alleged subversive activities in the region, including the sponsorship and execution of terrorist attacks within Pakistan.
Referencing a recent school bus bombing in Balochistan, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that India has been involved in state-sponsored terrorism for the past 20 years.
The CTD officials further revealed that the arrested individuals were planning attacks on a mosque and railway station in Bahawalpur. Explosives, detonators, IEDs, safety fuses, and confidential maps were seized from the suspects, who confessed to receiving instructions for the planned attacks.
In addition to these arrests, three more alleged RAW agents – Azam alias Jaji, Manzoor alias Qari (both from Bahawalnagar), and Amjad from Pakpattan – were captured in Toba Tek Singh. Zulfiqar, considered a key facilitator involved in funding these activities from Dubai, was apprehended in Bahawalpur.
According to the CTD, they have intercepted audio conversations between the suspects and Indian intelligence officers, detailing discussions about targeted killings and attacks on sensitive locations.
AIG Sultan emphasized to reporters that India is attempting to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism, but that security agencies are prepared to counter these efforts and will not compromise on the nation’s security.
This crackdown follows a slight increase in militant attacks during May 2025. Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) indicates a 5% rise in attacks compared to April, with 85 attacks recorded in May resulting in 113 fatalities and 182 injuries. Civilian injuries saw a significant increase, highlighting the growing impact of militant activities on the general population. There was also a noticeable increase in security personnel deaths in May. Militants also abducted at least 19 individuals during the month.
