In a successful operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, security forces apprehended four terrorists in the Toba Kakri area of Balochistan, as reported by state-run Radio Pakistan on Thursday. The arrests come amid a surge in terrorist activities across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, following the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ending its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the TTP using Afghan territory to launch attacks within its borders, urging the Afghan interim government to take action against the group. However, Kabul has denied these allegations.
According to security sources cited by Radio Pakistan, weapons such as Kalashnikovs, hand grenades, and other firearms were seized from the arrested terrorists. The suspects reportedly confessed to planning a major terrorist attack, with one admitting they had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan three days prior.
The operation’s success was attributed in part to the cooperation of the local population. Security sources highlighted that the involvement of residents in combating terrorism marks a positive development. Defense experts emphasized that the rise in terrorism in Pakistan is largely due to terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil. They called for immediate international action, describing Afghanistan as a haven for terrorists.
This arrest follows a recent remotely detonated explosion in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, which killed five people and critically injured 10 others. The blast targeted the vehicle of pro-government tribal elder Abdul Samad Samalani. Earlier in the week, an attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the martyrdom of five soldiers and the deaths of 16 terrorists. The attack also claimed the lives of 13 civilians, including six children, and left 32 others injured.
Pakistan’s struggle with terrorism has intensified, as reflected in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, where the country ranked second. The report noted a 45% increase in terrorism-related deaths over the past year, totaling 1,081 fatalities.
A recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed a marginal rise in terrorist attacks in February, alongside a sharp increase in civilian casualties. According to PICSS, Pakistan experienced 79 terrorist attacks last month, resulting in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 45 civilians and 81 security personnel were injured. In response, security forces escalated counter-terrorism operations, eliminating 156 terrorists, injuring 20, and arresting 66.
Balochistan remained the most volatile province, recording 32 attacks that claimed 56 lives, including 35 civilians, 10 security personnel, and 11 militants. The ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for sustained efforts to combat terrorism and ensure regional stability.
