In Pakistan’s tribal district of Bajaur, security forces continue to score successive victories as India-sponsored proxy, Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK, term used for the banned TTP), terrorist plots are being unmasked and dismantled one after another. Even before the echoes had faded from the shocking revelations of hidden tunnels, weapons stockpiles, and sabotage plans uncovered recently, another sinister attempt has been thwarted, this time in the Damadola area of Mamund.
Security sources report that a live mortar round, likely planted to cause civilian casualties and then be exploited as propaganda, was safely defused before it could detonate. According to officials, local residents spotted the suspicious device and immediately alerted the police. A bomb disposal squad, escorted by a heavy police contingent, was swiftly dispatched and successfully rendered the mortar round safe.
The timely intervention not only saved innocent lives but also disrupted what authorities described as a twofold FAK conspiracy: to incite mass casualties and use the incident to launch a disinformation campaign targeting security forces. The residents expressed gratitude to the police and civil administration for preventing disaster, and strongly condemned the terrorists’ continued plots against their own people.
A senior security official at the scene urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious materials or movements, stating:
“Even a single unexploded device left in a remote area can be part of a wider, calculated scheme by the Khawarij to kill, divide, and destabilise. Public awareness is the first line of defence.”
This incident follows a recent series of counter-terrorism operations in Bajaur:
On September 27, a FAK-placed explosive claimed the lives of four innocent children and injured five others in Lagharai.
On September 30, another mortar round was found and defused in Ghakhi, a village near Lagharai, during intensified clearance operations.
These operations were launched precisely to prevent such tragedies and to clear former conflict zones of any hidden explosives.
Security experts stress that the Khawarij aim to achieve “dual impact” through these acts: first, by spreading terror, and second, by poisoning public trust in the state.
“The Khawarij plant these weapons not only to kill but also to manipulate, to pit civilians against security institutions, and fracture the unity between the people and the forces protecting them,” said one counter-terror analyst.
The Bajaur incidents highlight a growing awareness among the local population, who now increasingly act as the eyes and ears of the state. Officials say this civil-security partnership is critical to dismantling networks like FAK, who operate through deceit, propaganda, and violence.
Authorities are urging continued community cooperation:
“If you see something suspicious; a hidden object, an unfamiliar person, or unexplained activity, report it. Every call matters. Every warning can save lives.”
