Effective Action by Security Agencies: Quetta Saved from a Major Disaster on August 14; “Heroof Three” Plot Foiled

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat Quetta) — The Balochistan government claims that security agencies, under “Heroof Three,” foiled a plan for explosions in Quetta on August 14 and arrested two individuals. According to officials, a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

This was stated during a news conference in Quetta by Advisor to the Balochistan Chief Minister for Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind, Additional Chief Secretary Interior Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, and DIG Quetta Imran Shaukat. Shahid Rind said that the threat of terrorism in Balochistan was high in August; however, due to the efforts of law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, the Frontier Corps, and the Counter Terrorism Department, such plots were foiled. According to him, during this period, two individuals named Niaz Jatoi and Habib-ur-Rehman were arrested, who were preparing attacks under the name “Heroof Three” in August.

It is noteworthy that the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out coordinated attacks named Operation Heroof across Balochistan on the night between August 25 and 26, 2024, and similarly carried out coordinated attacks named Heroof Two in more than ten cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, on January 31, 2026. Dozens of ordinary citizens and security personnel died in these attacks.

Additional Chief Secretary Interior Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat said that the arrested accused had planned to carry out explosions across Quetta on August 14 (Independence Day), but due to the timely action of security agencies, Quetta was saved from a major tragedy.

According to him, the recovered weapons included MMGs, ammunition, and hand grenades, which were being brought from Chaghai to Quetta. According to him, some transporters were also involved in the transfer of the weapons, who have been identified, and the buses used to bring the weapons have also been taken into custody.

On this occasion, video statements of both arrested individuals were also shown. Niazullah Jatoi stated his affiliation with the Kechi Beg Sariab area of Quetta. In the video, he said that a person named Sikandar had called him and asked him to keep some goods at his home. Later, another person contacted him and spoke about receiving the goods.

The second arrested person, Habib-ur-Rehman, stated his affiliation with the Kurd Gap area of Mastung. According to him, a person named Hafiz Ibrahim called him and asked him to deliver two cartons of shopping goods to Quetta. He said that after that, he contacted Samiullah and had the goods transferred to Quetta. Then he informed Niaz Jatoi that the goods had arrived.

According to a report by state television PTV, Habib-ur-Rehman alias Munshi, arrested on charges of facilitating the transfer of weapons, confessed that he was given Rs35,000 for delivering this weapon from Dalbandin to Quetta.

Shahid Rind said that operations against terrorism are ongoing in the province. In these operations carried out on intelligence information, besides six individuals belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), two female suicide attackers were also arrested; however, he did not provide details of the women’s identities, the place of arrest, or their alleged plans.

According to Shahid Rind, in combing operations, two commanders of the banned organisation were also arrested from Shaban near Quetta and the Khadkocha area of Mastung. He said that not only were terrorists killed or arrested, but some also surrendered themselves voluntarily to the government.

During the news conference, a video of Shahab Rashid, a resident of Panjgur, was also shown. In it, he said that he was influenced in 2021 by an account on Facebook. After that, his contact with people affiliated with the BLA began, and he also delivered rations for this group at some locations.

He said that later he felt remorse over his action and decided to continue his education. According to him, he surrendered himself to the authorities in Panjgur.

According to Shahid Rind, Shahab voluntarily surrendered himself to the government through his family. He went to a neighbouring country in 2021, where he received training in a camp of the banned Baloch Liberation Army. He said that Shahab had been lured online, and the government is considering giving him a chance at a peaceful life.

Shahid Rind said, “I think Shahab wants to give his life another chance. Other young people should also think that they are part of a war that will yield no result.”

He appealed to young people going to the mountains to contact the authorities through their families, political leaders, elected representatives, or the district administration.

The Chief Minister’s media advisor said that the Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and the government have a very clear position that any young person who has gone astray toward the mountains and wishes to return while accepting the Pakistani state and Constitution — the doors are open for them. The state has never closed its doors for them.

He said that at present, approximately 90 individuals are in detention centres, against whom legislation has been made to establish faceless courts (a secret court system) in Balochistan to conduct cases, where hearings are underway against them. The government is trying to ensure that they are punished in accordance with the law as soon as possible.

The Additional Chief Secretary Interior said that work is also underway on the rehabilitation of these individuals present in detention centres. He gave the example that some time ago, after the rehabilitation of Khadija Baloch, she was sent to her family.

According to Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, in the past two years, the provincial government has passed approximately 16 new laws related to security and administrative matters. He said that approximately 17 new institutions and departments have also been created. These include a special cell for the prevention of extortion, the Balochistan Integrated Security Architecture (BISA), the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Cell (PIFTAC), a Centre of Excellence, and detention centres.

According to him, this is evidence that the cabinet, assembly, police, security agencies, and the entire civil administration are working on one page.

The Additional Chief Secretary Interior further said that the government is working on the prevention of illegal activities along with operations against terrorism. According to him, approximately 1.1 million illegal foreigners have been expelled from the country, while approximately 50,000 operations have been carried out against various illegal activities. These include measures against electricity theft, drugs, illegal border crossings, and the use of non-customs-paid vehicles.

According to DIG Quetta Imran Shaukat, this year the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has carried out more than 3,300 intelligence-based operations. In these, more than three hundred suspected individuals were arrested, while hundreds were also killed.

He said that in an incident yesterday, two police personnel were martyred, after which the number of Balochistan Police personnel martyred this year has exceeded 100.

Imran Shaukat said that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti regularly takes briefings on the security situation. According to him, work has also been done on providing funds, security arrangements, and technical equipment to meet the needs of the CTD.

He said that federal institutions and other security agencies are also cooperating with the provincial police in operations against terrorism.

Shahid Rind said that sometimes the situations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are compared, whereas the Balochistan government, together with the federation, has taken many measures to eliminate terrorism, including an action plan at the provincial level to deal with terrorism.

He said that the provincial government will continue operations against terrorism and will not stop its efforts until the elimination of the last terrorist.

According to him, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s position is clear: he will not hesitate even to sacrifice his politics to continue the war against terrorism.