LAHORE – Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has exposed a RAW terror network in Pakistan during a major security sweep called Operation Yalghar. The crackdown led to the arrest of six suspected militants working for India’s intelligence agency, RAW, from multiple cities across Punjab.
Punjab’s Additional IG Operations, Shehzada Sultan, alongside CTD SSP Waqar Azim, addressed a press conference in Lahore. They revealed that two men, Aslam and Akbar Ali, were arrested in Bahawalnagar while receiving explosives from India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
The accused were allegedly in contact with senior Indian intelligence officials. These included RAW’s Major Ravindra Rathore and Inspector Singh. This discovery further confirms Pakistan’s long-standing concerns about RAW-backed militants operating on Pakistani soil.
Officials shared that these India-linked terrorists were planning attacks on a mosque and the Bahawalpur railway station. Explosives, detonators, IEDs, safety fuses, and maps were seized during the operation. The suspects admitted they had been taking directions from Indian handlers to execute the planned bombings.
Three other RAW operatives in Punjab were captured from Toba Tek Singh. They were identified as Azam alias Jaji, Manzoor alias Qari—both from Bahawalnagar—and Amjad from Pakpattan. Another key figure, Zulfiqar, who was allegedly managing finances for these terror plots from Dubai, was arrested in Bahawalpur.
Audio recordings intercepted by CTD provide solid evidence. These tapes contain discussions between the suspects and Indian intelligence agents. Conversations included talk of targeted killings and attacks on key installations across Pakistan.
AIG Shehzada Sultan stressed that India is using terrorism to destabilize Pakistan. He assured the media that security forces are ready to confront every attempt made by India’s intelligence network. “There will be no compromise on national security,” he declared.
This successful operation unfolded amid a visible rise in militant violence. According to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there was a 5% increase in militant activity during May 2025 compared to April.
PICSS recorded 85 attacks in May, slightly up from 81 the previous month. These incidents caused 113 deaths, including 52 security personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four members of peace committees. A total of 182 people were injured—130 civilians, 47 from security forces, four militants, and one peace committee member.
Civilian injuries showed a staggering 145% surge, climbing from 53 in April to 130 in May. This highlights the growing human cost of terrorism. Meanwhile, injuries among security forces dropped 20%, from 59 to 47.
In total, May saw 172 deaths and 194 injuries. Fatalities included 57 security officers, 65 militants, 46 civilians, and four members of peace committees. Militant groups also abducted at least 19 individuals during the month.
A striking trend was the 78% jump in security force deaths, while militant deaths dropped by 68%. May was also the first month since October 2024 when militant casualties dropped to double digits—65 in May, down sharply from 203 in April.
The arrest of these Indian intelligence agents underlines the threat Pakistan faces from foreign-sponsored terrorism. The RAW terror network in Pakistan remains a serious national security issue—but officials say efforts to dismantle it will continue with full force.