LAHORE: (Nov 1) Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday announced the arrest of 18 militants, most of them linked to the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), during a series of intelligence-based operations across Punjab province.
In a statement, the CTD said the militants were detained over the past month during coordinated operations in multiple districts. Those arrested were allegedly planning attacks on key installations and security personnel, according to preliminary investigations.
The operations were part of an ongoing crackdown against extremist groups amid a surge in militant activity across Pakistan’s border regions. Weapons, explosives, and extremist literature were recovered from the suspects, police said.
Security forces have intensified operations in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a recent rise in attacks claimed by the TTP and affiliated outfits.