Arrest in Punjab exposes Afghan terror network recruiting members

WEB DESK: A major terror network, orchestrated from Afghan soil and aimed at spreading violence within Pakistan, has been uncovered following the arrest and detailed confession of an Afghan national in Talagang, Punjab. The suspect’s statement provides a chilling blueprint of recruitment, planning, and the attempted execution of attacks, directly implicating a Taliban commander inside Afghanistan.

The arrested individual, who identified himself as Qasim alias Hasan, son of Lal Khan, a Dlawazi tribe member from Ghazni province, revealed he had been living in Lakki Marwat, with his family for the past decade. “We grew up here, earned our livelihood, and received much love from the people here,” he stated in his confession. However, his life took a dark turn in 2025 during a meeting at a shrine in Sarhaddah, where he was recruited by a Taliban commander known as Armani.

According to his testimony, Commander Armani invited him to join “Jihad.” After an initial 20-day indoctrination period, Qasim and a companion named Farooq were directed to conduct a suicide reconnaissance mission on a military fort in Tajuzai. “Commander Armani had us carry out reconnaissance on the military fort with the intention of a fidayeen (suicide) attack, but we couldn’t execute it due to a lack of suitable opportunity,” Qasim admitted.

His role soon evolved from operative to recruiter. Acting on Armani’s orders, he began scouting for new members within Pakistan. “Commander Armani told me to find new people for the organization… I handed over 5 individuals to Commander Armani, for which I received 10,000 rupees per person,” he confessed, exposing a monetized recruitment pipeline.

The network’s ambition stretched beyond the tribal regions. In September, following Armani’s advice, Qasim moved to Punjab with the explicit goal of “finding boys and recruiting them for the organisation.” His activities in Punjab were cut short when local police apprehended him.

Security officials have labeled Qasim’s confessional video as “irrefutable evidence” of the use of Afghan territory for planning terrorism against Pakistan. They emphasize that this is not an isolated case but part of a persistent pattern, noting that Pakistan has previously presented multiple, undeniable proofs to the international community regarding the exploitation of Afghan soil by terrorists targeting its territory. The arrest underscores ongoing security challenges and the complex threat posed by cross-border networks leveraging historical ties and local presence to orchestrate violence.