QUETTA: Balochistan government officials said on Friday that six terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), two would-be female suicide bombers, and two commanders of a banned organisation had been arrested during intelligence-based operations across the province.
They said around 90 arrested terrorists were being held at a centre where investigations and legal proceedings were underway.
This was stated by Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, during a media briefing alongside Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat and Quetta DIG Imran Shaukat.
Mr Rind said police, security forces and other law enforcement agencies had conducted intelligence-based operations across Balochistan, killing several terrorists and prompting others to surrender to the state. He said two commanders of a banned organisation had been arrested in Shaban and Khadkocha, along with six TTP terrorists and two would-be female suicide bombers.
CM’s aide says six TTP terrorists, two would-be female suicide bombers and two commanders of a banned outfit arrested
Mr Rind said the state remained willing to give those who abandoned militancy and accepted Pakistan’s Constitution and laws an opportunity to return to normal life. He cited the example of Shahab, a resident of Panjgur, who had reportedly joined a banned organisation through social media.
He said the government had introduced programmes to encourage young people who had joined armed groups to abandon militancy and return to mainstream society with the help of their families, political representatives and district administrations.
Mr Rind said counterterrorism operations would continue in coordination with the federal
government under the provincial action plan.
Mr Shafqaat said the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces had arrested Niaz Jatoi and Habibur Rehman, residents of Kardgap, in August following a heightened threat alert. He said their arrests had foiled a planned terrorist attack in Quetta on Aug 14 as part of “Herof-3”.
Weapons and explosives, including hand grenades and light machine guns, allegedly being transported from Chagai to Quetta, were recovered, while the vehicles involved were also seized, he added.
Mr Shafqaat said the provincial government had enacted 16 laws and established 17 departments over the past two years. He added that rehabilitation efforts were also underway for detained militants, citing previous cases in which individuals, including Khadija Baloch, had been rehabilitated and reunited with their families.
DIG Imran Shaukat said the CTD and other law enforcement agencies had conducted 3,300 intelligence-based operations across Balochistan, arresting more than 300 suspected terrorists and killing hundreds.
He said police capacity had been strengthened, but two security personnel had been killed in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Video statements by Shahab, Niaz Jatoi and Habibur Rehman were also played during the briefing.
Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026
