12 Terrorists were arrested from Punjab’s Three cities, believed to be tied to RAW!
A rare, high-tension moment in Pakistan’s security landscape unfolded as the Punjab CTD hit hard across three cities. In a coordinated move, 12 individuals were taken into custody, believed to be tied to India’s intelligence apparatus, RAW. The operation spanned Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur, signaling a major strike against a hidden network and underscoring the ongoing struggle to keep regional security intact.
The crackdown was calculated and strategically multi-city. Officially, according to the CTD, the arrests were made in separate but synchronized raids, with each city—Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur—playing an important role in the alleged operation. The timing, on a Monday, came after weeks of meticulous intelligence gathering that traced communications and movements back to RAW handlers. While complete operational details are not being disclosed due to security implications, the authorities underlined that the network had already been under covert surveillance for some time.
Recoveries from the raids paint a grim picture
Weapons and live ammunition, explosives and detonators, and an alarming cache of images and footage from sensitive locations were recovered during the raids. The captured materials contained detailed photographs and videos of a madrassa, local festivals, and other public spots of interest. Such imagery points to reconnaissance work—a precursor to potential sabotage. Investigators discovered device-stored data, maps, and precise location coordinates that show there could be larger-scale planning beyond mere surveillance. Recoveries related to the components of explosives heighten the sense of urgency behind the operation.
These arrests, according to the CTD, are in connection with receiving instructions from handlers associated with RAW, and thus indicate an element of cross-border espionage in the case. The dynamics of cross-border intelligence operations have long been there; however, this development has given fresh vigor to the security calculus between Pakistan and India. Preliminary investigations reveal that the accused might have communicated through undercover means and could have received instructions from across the border. The investigating agency says more work is required to establish deeper links, identify other operatives, and ascertain foreign connections.
National and Regional Security at a Sensitive Moment
The broader ramifications concern national and regional security at a sensitive moment. Pakistan faces myriad threats from extremist outfits and terror networks abetted from across the border. The decisive action by the Punjab CTD reflects increased vigilance and enhanced intelligence capability in the province. According to analysts, the two main inferences are that the nature of espionage and hybrid war has changed, with technology as its main facilitator, and the continuous threat of foreign intervention to destabilize internal security remains. Quick response not only averts potential attacks but also strengthens confidence in the counterterrorism apparatus of the province.
Going forward, the CTD vows to sharpen its counter-terrorism playbook while pushing ahead with intelligence-led operations. The arrest and disruption of this RAW-linked network stand as a meaningful victory, reinforcing Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard sovereignty against covert threats.
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