Pakistan: Terror attack thwarted in Islamabad April 14

Event

On Saturday, April 14, Pakistani police officers reportedly thwarted a militant attack in Islamabad and confiscated two explosive jackets and small arms and ammunition (including hand grenades, ball bearings, pistols, and bullets) in a raid on the Golra area of the G-14 sector neighborhood. As of Saturday, police had launched an investigation to arrest those responsible for possessing the weapons. Extra security forces units were deployed to parts of the city in response. Additional raids on suspected militant positions are possible in Islamabad in the near-term.

Context

Islamist militant groups - including Al-Qai'da and Islamic State (IS) affiliates, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), the Afghan Taliban, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), among others - continue to pose a threat throughout the country despite ongoing military offensives aimed at pushing the militants from their strongholds, first launched in 2014. Pakistan has suffered several deadly attacks in recent months, notably in Lahore, Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Advice

As a reminder, due to the high threat of terrorism, kidnapping, and sectarian violence throughout the country, Western governments usually advise their citizens against all nonessential travel to Pakistan. Remain vigilant at all times and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.