Counterterrorism authorities in Punjab have arrested 18 terrorists during intelligence-based operations conducted across nine districts, including Lahore, as part of intensified efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent attacks.
According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab, the intelligence-based operations were carried out on the basis of information regarding suspected terrorist activity and the presence of individuals linked to terrorist networks. The operations covered Lahore and eight other districts, with personnel conducting targeted searches and taking suspects into custody for further investigation.
The arrests come as security and law-enforcement agencies continue to strengthen intelligence-led counterterrorism measures across the province, particularly to identify individuals involved in terrorist planning, facilitation, recruitment and logistics before they can translate their activities into attacks.
Separately, security personnel conducted 3,357 combing operations across Punjab to detect and disrupt potential terrorist networks and suspicious activity. During these operations, 274 suspected individuals were detained for verification and questioning.
Authorities also recovered weapons, explosive material and other items during the province-wide operations. The recoveries are being examined as part of investigations into possible links with terrorist networks and their support infrastructure.
The scale of the combing operations reflects a broader preventive strategy in which law-enforcement agencies are combining intelligence-based raids with area searches and verification of suspicious individuals to deny terrorists the opportunity to establish operational footholds.
Further investigation into the arrested individuals and recovered material is underway, while counterterrorism operations are expected to continue across Punjab to identify and dismantle terrorist networks and prevent potential attacks.
