Afghan Taliban terrorist involved in FC personnel killings arrested in Balochistan, home minister says
Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove. PHOTO: INP/FILE
Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove revealed on Sunday that security forces arrested an Afghan Taliban terrorist allegedly involved in the killing of two Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat and Counter-Terrorism Department Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Aitzaz Goraya, the minister said that anti-state elements had been actively engaged in conspiracies against Pakistan. He noted, however, that the country possessed the full capability to counter and defeat such threats.
“Pakistan harboured no hostility towards Afghanistan, but any aggression against the country would be met with a strong response,” he said.
The minister highlighted that certain groups, already designated as terrorist organisations globally, had established links with specific elements. He further alleged that attempts had been made to destabilise Pakistan using Afghan territory, clarifying that the state’s actions were directed against terrorism, not Afghan citizens.
We have multiple times raised our voices in every forum that Afghan Territory is used against Pakistan. Pakistan has been victim of terrorism since decades. Concrete evidences are provided terrorists groups operating from Afghan Land. As a result many innocent have lost their… pic.twitter.com/4kWFFOoA72
Providing operational details, Shafqaat said that thousands of intelligence-based operations had been conducted over the past year. He revealed that the arrested terrorist, identified as Habibullah, was involved in the killing of two FC personnel, while his brother was reportedly a commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Shafqaat added, “Habibullah, also known as Lalu, was re-arrested from the Kuchlak area. He had been previously detained but released after a month under a goodwill gesture, having been mistakenly considered a civilian. Following his release, the militant returned to terrorism and was responsible for the killing of two FC personnel.”
The arrested suspect disclosed that the group was led by an individual known as “Muslim” and had targeted Pakistani forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Shafqaat further stated that, as part of a crackdown on illegally residing foreigners, around 960,000 Afghan nationals had been deported to date. He added that the “One Document Regime” had been fully implemented across Balochistan to curb illegal cross-border movement and dismantle terrorist networks permanently.
He also claimed that Afghan nationals had been involved in multiple terrorist attacks within Pakistan.
DIG Goraya confirmed that a case was registered against the suspect, who would be presented before a court. He added that terrorist groups were operating from within Afghanistan.
Shafqaat further noted that thousands of acres had been cleared through drone surveillance to eliminate militant hideouts.
The home minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating anti-state elements, stating that security forces had worked around the clock to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty and its citizens. He reiterated that the government had pursued a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.