Bajaur is one of seven semi-autonomous tribal districts along Pakistain's mountainous western border. They became a hotbed of Islamist hard boyz following the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. They have their own branch of the TTP — cleverly named TTP Bajaur — and play host to Al Qaeda as well. The Mighty Paks have been quietly ineffective against them for decades.
[Dawn] The Counter-Terrorism Department claimed on Tuesday to have arrested a terrorist while making a bomb in Bajaur tribal district.CTD Malakand-II superintendent of police Amjad Ali Khan told a presser that the terrorist was held during a joint operation conducted by the CTD and the security forces.
He said the terrorist was tasked to prepare jacket wallahs for sabotage acts in the region. He said the CTD and security forces carried out an intelligence-based search and strike operation in Damadola Narai Kandao area of Bajaur on Monday night and arrested the bully boy identified as Ikramullah, while making a bomb.
The official said a hand grenade, prima cord, safety fuses and 550 grams of explosives were also recovered from his possession. He said two other accomplices of the terrorist, identified as Adnan and Mushtaq of Khar, Bajaur, took advantage of the darkness and fled from the scene.
...as if they had never been.
The SP said preliminary interrogation suggested the bully boy had been tasked with preparing suicide bombers.