The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has announced the arrest of 12 terrorists allegedly linked to India’s intelligence agency, RAW, in a major operation that thwarted what officials described as a “large-scale terror plot” targeting multiple cities across the province. The arrests led to the recovery of a significant quantity of weapons, explosives, detonators, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and cash, marking one of the most substantial counterterrorism breakthroughs of the year.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the dismantled RAW-backed network had been receiving “massive foreign funding” and was in the advanced stages of planning coordinated attacks aimed at destabilising Punjab. CTD teams arrested key operatives from Lahore, including Sukhdeep Singh, Azmat, Faizan, Nabeel, Abrar, Usman, and Sarfaraz, while Danish was apprehended in a separate raid in Faisalabad. Officials said the suspects had been operating covertly under RAW’s direction, with instructions to execute high-impact attacks in urban centres.
Investigations reveal that the group had already conducted reconnaissance of several potential targets and was preparing to deploy explosives for maximum casualties and disruption. The seized materials—consisting of IED bombs, detonators, sophisticated explosive devices, and substantial funds—indicate the scale and seriousness of the planned operation. The CTD spokesperson said the arrests had “averted a major tragedy” and exposed India’s continuing covert attempts to fuel instability inside Pakistan.
The spokesperson further stated that RAW’s support for violent sabotage networks remains a direct threat to Pakistan’s internal security, adding that the CTD will continue to pursue all facilitators, handlers, and financial conduits involved in cross-border terrorism. The detained suspects are undergoing interrogation, and more arrests are expected as the investigation expands to trace additional members of the cell.
The CTD emphasised that the operation reflects Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to counterterrorism and its resolve to neutralise any foreign-backed plot aimed at endangering civilian lives. Officials praised the swift and coordinated action of the CTD teams, noting that their efforts had “prevented major bloodshed and safeguarded peace in Punjab’s cities.”
