Two high level TTP terrorists arrested

QUETTA: The Balochistan government Wednesday announced the arrest of two high-value commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) namely Nasrullah alias “Maulvi Mansoor” and Idris alias “Irshad”.

“We have apprehended an important terrorist network. Terrorists Nasrullah […] and Idris have been arrested after a difficult operation,” Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said while speaking at a press conference in Quetta.

The arrests came a day after the federal cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam — a reinvigorated and re-energised national counter-terrorism drive decided by the National Action Plan’s Central Apex Committee.

Operation Azm-e-Istahkam gets federal cabinet’s nod

Highlighting external elements behind terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, Langove said: “India is behind terrorist attacks in the country [and] provides financial support to the militants.”

Underscoring that a certain group of youth have been misled and are harming their country, the minister called on such individuals not to fall to the enemy’s words.

Later, he played a video message of Nasrullah.

In his statement, Nasrullah said that he belonged to Mehsud tribe and had been participating in subversive activities. He joined the TTP when the outfit was founded. Indian agency RAW has been sponsoring terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Nasrullah said in his statement that he fled to Afghanistan when the Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched and lived in Paktika.