QUETTA: Security forces have thwarted an attempt to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, arresting four alleged terrorists in the Toba-Kakari area of Pishin district along with weapons and ammunition, officials said on Thursday.

A senior security official said that, acting on a tip-off about suspicious activities at the Pak-Afghan border in the Toba-Kakari area, security forces moved to the border and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of four alleged terrorists who had crossed into the mountainous area of Pishin.

“The Afghan terrorists had been hiding in the Toba-Kakari area for the last three days and were planning to reach Pishin town to carry out terrorist activities,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

The terrorists, arrested by Frontier Corps personnel, admitted during initial interrogation that they had entered the Pakistani territory through the barbed fence erected along the long border with Afghanistan.

Balochistan minister confirms arrests, hails security forces’ efforts to combat terrorism

One of the arrested terrorists was identified as Asamuddin, son of Gulshad.

The officials said a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and other weapons, was recovered from the terrorists.

Security officials also commended the support and cooperation of local tribesmen, whose assistance was crucial to the success of the operation and in providing information about the terrorists’ presence.

“The arrested terrorists have been moved to an undisclosed location for further investigation,” the officials added.

They said evidence continued to surface regarding the influx of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan, which has repeatedly urged the Afghan government to prevent terrorists from using its territory to launch cross-border attacks.

These terrorists have reportedly received support from various terrorist organisations, which have facilitated their operations. “The silence of the Afghan government is evidence that these terrorist organisations are receiving backing from Afghan authorities,” the officials said.

Balochistan’s Finance and Mineral Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani confirmed the arrest of the four alleged terrorists and praised the security forces for launching a successful operation against the terrorists.

Other ministers, including Mir Sadiq Umrani, Saleem Khosa, Abdul Samad Gorgage and Sardar Masood Khan Luni, also lauded the security forces’ efforts to combat terrorists infiltrating from Afghanistan. They emphasised that the writ of the government would not be undermined and that strict action would be taken against terrorists and their facilitators.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025