In a significant breakthrough, a leading intelligence agency has successfully thwarted a major terror plot aimed at launching a deadly assault on the strategically crucial PAF Masroor Airbase in Karachi, according to sources within the intelligence community.
Officials stated that the intricate plan was orchestrated by a commander belonging to the Afghanistan-based terror outfit Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), who is the head of the group’s notorious suicide squad.
The plot involved nine highly trained terrorists — five of whom were Afghan nationals — under the leadership of a high-profile FAK commander who was already wanted in connection with multiple terrorism incidents.
These terrorists, having recently infiltrated Pakistan from Afghanistan, intended to breach the airbase through a pre-determined entry point, seize control of the facility, destroy aircraft and infrastructure, and maintain control of the base for as long as possible. Their objective was to inflict maximum damage and engage in a prolonged gunfight until their demise.
The operation was reportedly under the direct supervision of FAK’s top leadership situated in Afghanistan and involved nearly thirteen months of meticulous planning. The terrorists had established residences in the vicinity of the airbase and had conducted extensive reconnaissance of the area.
However, the intelligence agency had been closely monitoring their activities. Just as the attackers were about to commence the final phase of their plot, the agency executed a swift, covert, and coordinated operation, apprehending the suspects from various locations across the country.
The agency’s action not only safeguarded the strategic airbase but also significantly weakened a key FAK terror network implicated in several prior attacks — including the November 2024 assault on Chinese engineers at Liberty Textile Mills in Karachi’s SITE area.
The same FAK commander who was apprehended in the current operation is believed to have been the mastermind behind that earlier attack before fleeing to Afghanistan.
Authorities describe him as an IED expert, trained in Afghanistan, and a former militant who fought alongside the Afghan Taliban during their conflict with NATO and ISAF forces.
Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of hostile intelligence agencies, which are allegedly providing funds and equipment to terrorist elements in an attempt to destabilize Pakistan. Officials highlighted a similar terror plot that was foiled last October, in which FAK and these hostile agencies had conspired to sabotage a major international event in Islamabad.
Despite these threats, Pakistan’s armed forces, intelligence services, and law enforcement agencies remain resolute in their mission to protect the nation. Officials reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating terrorism in all its forms and ensuring national security through coordinated and relentless vigilance.
