- Pakistan Forces foil terror plot in Lakki Marwat after intelligence-led operation kills five militants before they could strike the city.
- Security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from militants linked to Indian-backed networks operating from Afghanistan.
- Militants were allegedly involved in attacks on civilians and foreign nationals, including Chinese workers.
- Operation carried out under Pakistan’s nationwide counter-terror campaign Azm-e-Istehkam
Pakistan’s armed forces on Saturday thwarted what security officials described as a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack in the northwestern city of Lakki Marwat, killing five militants during a swift intelligence-based operation that prevented the group from carrying out a large-scale assault on civilians.
According to security sources, the operation was conducted late on March 15 after intelligence agencies received credible information about the presence of armed militants in a residential compound on the outskirts of Lakki Marwat, a district located near Pakistan’s western frontier bordering Afghanistan.
The militants, identified by officials as members of the extremist network referred to by authorities as Fitna al-Khwarij, were allegedly preparing a major terrorist attack targeting the city.
Acting on precise intelligence, Pakistani security forces launched a coordinated raid on the suspected hideout. Troops surrounded the compound and engaged the militants in a fierce exchange of fire.
“During the conduct of the operation, our troops effectively engaged the terrorist location,” a senior security official said. “After an intense firefight, five Khwarij terrorists were neutralized before they could execute their planned attack.”
Officials confirmed that all militants present at the location were killed during the operation. Weapons, ammunition, and operational material were recovered from the hideout.
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Security sources said the recovered material indicates the group was planning a large-scale attack that could have caused significant casualties and damage in Lakki Marwat.
The successful raid is being viewed as a major preemptive counterterrorism success by Pakistan’s armed forces, preventing what authorities say could have been a devastating assault on civilians.
Targeting Foreign Nationals
Security officials said the terrorists were part of a broader network involved in attacks against both Pakistani civilians and foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens working on development and infrastructure projects across the country.
Over the past several years, terrorist groups operating along Pakistan’s western border regions have repeatedly targeted foreign workers involved in strategic economic initiatives, including projects connected to regional connectivity and development.
Officials allege that many of these groups receive backing from hostile foreign intelligence networks and operate from sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan.
According to Pakistani security sources, militants allegedly supported by India have been using Afghan territory to infiltrate Pakistan’s border districts and carry out terrorist attacks.
Authorities say infiltration attempts have increased in recent weeks following Pakistan’s precision counterterrorism strikes against militant hideouts across the border.
“These terrorist elements have intensified their infiltration attempts into districts bordering Afghanistan after suffering heavy losses from Pakistan’s recent operations,” a security official said.
Intensified Counterterrorism Campaign
Pakistan’s armed forces have significantly increased surveillance and intelligence operations along the western frontier in recent months.
Military officials say dozens of intelligence-driven operations are being conducted across sensitive districts to neutralize militant networks before they can launch attacks.
According to security sources, hundreds of militants have been eliminated in similar preemptive operations in recent months.
“The armed forces remain on high alert,” the official said. “Our intelligence and operational capabilities are actively preventing major terrorist incidents.”
Saturday’s raid in Lakki Marwat is part of Pakistan’s nationwide counterterrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” a strategy approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.
The initiative aims to dismantle militant infrastructure, strengthen border security, and eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorist networks operating within Pakistan.
Determined to Eliminate Terror Networks
Security sources said Pakistan’s military leadership has taken a firm decision to root out terrorism across the country.
According to officials familiar with the strategy, the top brass of Pakistan’s armed forces has authorized forces to pursue terrorist elements wherever necessary, including across the border when threats originate from external sanctuaries.
“The objective is clear,” a security official said. “Pakistan will not allow foreign-sponsored terrorists to destabilize the country or threaten civilians and foreign partners.”
Following the Lakki Marwat raid, security forces have launched a sanitization operation in the surrounding area to ensure no additional militants remain in hiding.
Authorities said the operation will continue until the area is fully secured.
Officials emphasized that Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign will continue at full pace until the threat of foreign-backed militancy is eliminated.
“The relentless efforts of Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies will continue,” the official said. “The country remains committed to wiping out the menace of terrorism once and for all.”