In a decisive breakthrough, Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Task Force, in collaboration with intelligence agencies, successfully apprehended a high-profile terrorist operative in a meticulously planned raid in Hazara Goth, Karachi. Acting on actionable intelligence, security forces stormed a concealed hideout adjoining a commercial warehouse, leading to the live arrest of Zakaria Ismail, a central figure in the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and a trained agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Initial investigations have confirmed that Zakaria Ismail’s true identity is Zulfiqar. He played a pivotal role within the BLA’s Karachi cell, orchestrating terrorist activities in coordination with RAW’s strategic directives. At the time of capture, crucial evidence was seized, including a Thuraya satellite phone, a 9mm Glock pistol, a forged Afghan ID card, and cash amounting to $11,800.
Further inquiry revealed that in 2023, Zulfiqar obtained an Indian visa under a false alias, traveling through Dubai to Delhi. There, RAW’s Balochistan desk provided him with advanced training in sabotage tactics, IED assembly, and covert operations. He also participated in detailed briefings based on Ajit Doval’s “Defensive Offence Doctrine” — a doctrine aimed at fomenting internal instability within Pakistan through proxy terrorist networks in Balochistan.
Officials emphasize that this arrest disrupts a sophisticated terror network stretching from Karachi to Khuzdar, linked to multiple planned attacks targeting national security. Forensic analysis of a remote detonator recovered from the crime scene confirmed a signal match with Zakaria’s Thuraya phone, providing irrefutable evidence of his operational role.
This landmark operation significantly cripples the collaboration between the BLA and RAW, delivering a critical blow to efforts aimed at destabilizing Pakistan’s sovereignty and regional peace.
