HUB, Balochistan: Pakistani intelligence agencies successfully thwarted a major terrorist plot in Hub, Balochistan, saving dozens of lives on the 9th of Muharram (Saturday) by arresting a suicide bomber during a protest rally organized by Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
According to reports, the security forces acted on credible intelligence, maintained surveillance on a suspicious individual at Seerat Chowk during a protest organized by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC). The protest was held in response to the recent killing of Zeeshan Zaheer, a BYC member allegedly abducted and killed on June 29 by unknown gunmen.
Security personnel swiftly encircled the suspect and took him into custody. During initial interrogation, the man confessed to being a trained suicide bomber affiliated with the Indian-funded banned terrorist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The arrested suicide bomber revealed that he had been instructed to carry out a mass-casualty attack during the Ashura procession on the 10th of Muharram, with the intention of sparking sectarian violence in the Balochistan province.
According to officials, four BYC-affiliated women who appeared to be part of the protest were found to be aiding the suspect. They reportedly attempted to obstruct the arrest and interfere with the security cordon. All four were detained and are now in custody. Authorities claim that the women were safeguarding the suicide vest and remote detonation device.
The suspect further admitted to receiving explosives and funds near the Iranian border with the help of accomplices. Forensic analysis of recovered devices reportedly shows components marked with “RA-DRN,” which officials say are used in Indian military-grade detonation systems. Call data records also indicate direct communication with an Indian government-registered number, which is a clear sign of Indian involvement in the terror plot.
Security experts say the timing of the planned attack, Ashura was not only meant to maximize casualties but also to exacerbate sectarian tensions in Balochistan, where communal peace remains fragile. A successful attack, officials noted, could have diverted security forces to multiple fronts and deepened the province’s instability.
Authorities have further accused the BYC of aligning itself, intentionally or otherwise with anti-state elements. They cite the organization’s increasing ideological overlap with banned outfits and its choice of religiously sensitive dates for protests as signs of strategic coordination with hostile foreign agendas.
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Intelligence Bureau (IB), Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and Quick Response Forces (QRF) were all credited for their joint role in preempting the attack. Officials say this operation underscores the importance of a robust intelligence network in regions prone to cross-border subversion.
In the wake of the foiled attack, citizens have been urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and support security forces in maintaining peace during the sensitive month of Muharram.
