Punjab has been put on high alert after a recent surge in terrorist attacks, a police spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.
This comes after a deadly attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where five soldiers and 13 civilians lost their lives. Sixteen militants were also killed, and 32 others were injured due to multiple suicide blasts.
Following the attack, Army Chief General Asim Munir visited Bannu and vowed to bring the masterminds to justice. Meanwhile, Pakistan arrested Daesh commander Mohammad Sharifullah alias Jaffar, accused of attacking US troops at Kabul airport in 2021. He was handed over to the US in a gesture of cooperation.
Later, US President Donald Trump thanked Pakistan for this.
Punjab police have ramped up intelligence-based operations, conducting 436 search and sweep operations in the past 24 hours. They arrested 123 suspects and 38 proclaimed offenders, recovering weapons, including two Kalashnikovs and 12 guns.
Recent terrorist attacks
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. In January 2025, terror attacks surged by 42 per cent compared to December 2024, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. The country recorded 74 militant attacks, leading to 91 deaths, including 35 security personnel and 20 civilians. Another 117 people were injured.
Security forces continue operations to tackle the growing threat as attacks increasingly target law enforcement and military personnel.
