RAWALPINDI: Elem­e­n­ts linked with the militant Islamic State (IS) group who are returning to Pakis­tan from Syria could pose a serious threat to the security situation in Punjab, intelligence sources have warned.

The IS-linked militants, who ostensibly went from Pakistan to fight in Syria, are likely to return via Afghanistan. In the past, there have been reports of a number of Pakistanis joining the ranks of the IS to fight in the ongoing battle between the Syrian government and militants.

Amir Rana of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies said it was not certain weather the militants attempting to return were Pakistanis or expatriates.

In a recent meeting, sou­rces said, law enforcement officials were asked to ado­pt a proactive appr­oach to control militancy and anti-social elements. Rawal­pi­n­di police chief Israr Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn: “Joint search and combing operations are being conducted in the district on a regular basis to keep a check on suspicious elements.”

Published in Dawn January 14th, 2017