Law enforcement agencies on Friday claimed to have foiled an Independence Day terror bid, by arresting four suspected terrorists in Jamrud, Khyber Agency.
"Based on an intelligence tip off, levies and the Khasadar force conducted a search operation in Shahkas area of Jamrud Tehsil in Khyber Agency. As a result of the operation, four suicide bombers and five suicide vests were taken into custody," officials told in Jamrud. They further told that the detained terrorists were planning to carry out a major attack on 14th August.
Two officials of Political Administration were also arrested due to allegedly to be facilitators of terrorists, according to sources. They said the two women among the four suspected terrorists. The sources further said the interrogation being initiated after the arrest of officials of political administration Jamrud. The terrorists, they said, were used women to hit major installations on the eve of Independence Day.
However, the political administration Jamrud, has categorically denied any link of officials with the suspected terrorists that was arrested during a search operation in Jamrud, Khyber Agency.
According to initial reports, the suicide bombers had command and control from Afghanistan and had been assigned the task of targeting government installations, high officials and ceremonies of 14 August in Khyber Agency and Peshawar. The administration official added that the suicide bombers were in custody of security agencies for further investigation.
While addressing a press conference, Assistant Political Agent Ziaullah Marwat stated, all four of the bombers had come from Afghanistan, while adding that the suspects were planning a massive terror attack in Peshawar on August 14.
Marwat further said the group has been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. "They were there to target security installations and carry out targeted attacks," he claimed.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that the security agencies after the Quetta suicide blast put the security on high alert in Khyber to avert any untoward incident on Independence Day.
The tribal region was considered a sanctuary for local and foreign militant groups until the military launched its offensive there. Several militants and their leadership fled across the border and are camped out in Afghan territory from where they launch attacks against Pakistani security forces and innocent civilians.