WEB DESK: The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday announced the arrest of 12 suspected terrorists allegedly linked to India’s intelligence agency, Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), in coordinated operations across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur. Authorities also recovered a large cache of weapons, explosives, and intelligence material.
According to CTD officials, recovered items included firearms, explosives, detonators, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and a substantial amount of cash. Sensitive material such as photographs, videos, and location data of government institutions, a seminary, and a public fair was also confiscated.
Intelligence gathered from a Facebook account reportedly operated from India was pivotal in tracking the network. Officials said that in Faisalabad, one suspect identified as Danish was planning to spread fear and incite religious hatred in Punjab.
The suspects arrested in Lahore were named Deep Singh, Azmat, Faisal, Nabeel Ibrar, and Usman Sarfraz. Those held in Bahawalpur included Rizwan, Hashim, Sadiq, and Arif. Authorities alleged the network received substantial funding from RAW through digital channels to facilitate its operations.
In a related development, CTD Sindh reported the arrest of four additional individuals in Karachi, described as RAW operatives, along with the recovery of weapons and sabotage materials.
The arrests come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran recently executing an individual convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad.
