A major terrorist plot targeting the strategically important PAF Masroor Airbase in Karachi has been thwarted in a successful intelligence-based operation, according to senior security officials.
The foiled assault, described as one of the most elaborate terror plans in recent years, was orchestrated by a commander of the Afghanistan-based militant group Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), who heads the group’s suicide squad. Intelligence sources revealed that the plan involved nine highly trained militants including five Afghan nationals under the leadership of a wanted FAK commander involved in multiple terrorism cases.
The terrorists had recently crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan and were residing in close proximity to the airbase while conducting reconnaissance. Their objective was to infiltrate the facility through a pre-identified breach point, seize control, destroy aircraft and infrastructure, and engage in a prolonged armed standoff.
The attack had been in planning for over thirteen months and was under the direct supervision of FAK’s top leadership based in Afghanistan. However, the plot was uncovered in time by one of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agencies, which had been monitoring the group’s movements for several weeks. A swift, covert, and well-coordinated operation was launched as the attackers moved into the final stage of their plan, resulting in the arrest of all suspects from multiple locations across the country.
The successful operation not only secured one of Pakistan’s key airbases but also dealt a significant blow to FAK’s operational network, which was also linked to the November 2024 terrorist attack on Chinese engineers at Liberty Textile Mills in Karachi’s SITE area. The FAK commander apprehended in the current operation is believed to have masterminded that attack as well before fleeing to Afghanistan.
Described by authorities as an IED expert and former militant associated with the Afghan Taliban during their conflict with NATO and ISAF forces, the captured commander is considered a key operative in regional terror logistics.
Preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of hostile foreign intelligence services in funding and facilitating the operation. Officials drew parallels to a similar foiled terror plot last October, in which the same group, in coordination with external agencies, had attempted to sabotage a major international event in Islamabad.
Despite such threats, Pakistan’s armed forces, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement institutions remain resolute in their mission to protect national security. Officials reiterated their commitment to preempting all forms of terrorism through enhanced coordination, surveillance, and proactive intelligence operations.
