Karachi CTD foils major terrorist plot; 2,000kg of explosives seized, three arrested

Law enforcement agencies achieved a major breakthrough on Monday, thwarting a major terror plot in Karachi, as the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh Police recovered 2,000 kilograms of explosive material and apprehended three high-value terrorists during a raid, Aaj News reported.

Addressing a joint press conference, Additional IG CTD Zulfiqar Larik and DIG Ghulam Azfar Mahesar revealed that the operation was carried out in the Rais Goth area following credible intelligence.

“The terrorists had prepared 2,000kg of explosives, stored in plastic drums, to target civilian installations within Karachi,” stated Additional IG Larik. While one suspect was captured during the initial raid, his disclosures led to the subsequent arrest of two more accomplices.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Jalil Ahmed, alias Fareed, Niaz Qadir, alias King, and Hamdan, alias Fareed.

READ MORE: Pakistan witnessed 34% increase in terror attacks in 2025: PIPS

Officials disclosed that the suspects are affiliated with Fitna-ul-Hindustan. Preliminary investigations suggest a sophisticated logistical chain where the explosive material was transported from Afghanistan through Balochistan before reaching Karachi.

DIG Mahesar emphasised that evidence points toward external sponsorship. “The network was being operated from India, with clear links to Bashir Zeb group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, Fitna-ul-Hindustan, and the Majeed Brigade group,” he informed the media. The recovered explosives were later transported to the Hub area and safely neutralised by the Bomb Disposal Squad.

Authorities noted that the terrorists had rented a house about 40 kilometers from the city centre to use as a base. The DIG warned that certain local facilitators provide shelter and logistics to these elements for minor financial gains.

A massive manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the remaining members of the cell. Security across Karachi has been placed on high alert as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the network, they said.

Pakistan saw a significant surge in terrorist attacks in 2025, with the number of attacks rising by 34 percent compared to the previous year.

According to the Pakistan Security Report 2025 released by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), the country witnessed 699 terrorist attacks, resulting in at least 1,034 deaths and 1,366 injuries.

READ MORE: Afghan border closure brings down terrorist violence by almost 17%: report

It said that terrorism-related fatalities increased by 21 percent, highlighting a continuing upward trend in militancy since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Of the 699 terrorist attacks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed 413 attacks, Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed 254 attacks, Sindh province recorded 21 attacks, Punjab witnessed 11, and three attacks were carried out in Gilgit-Baltistan in the previous year, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a significant drop in cross-border terrorist attacks and violence-linked fatalities has been recorded in Pakistan since it closed down the border with Afghanistan, a Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) annual security report revealed.

“Terrorist attacks went down by almost 17% in December, preceded by 9% decline in November. Terrorist violence-linked fatalities among civilians and security officials also fell in the last quarter of 2025, by nearly 4% and 19% each in November and December, respectively, as per the data collected by the CRSS.

The Pak-Afghan border was shut down for all kinds of trade and other activities on October 11, following the cross-border attacks by terrorists and Afghan forces which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The border closure also brought trade activities and pedestrian movement to a standstill. Islamabad says closures curb militant movement; Kabul denies providing safe haven to the militants.