Two high-value TTP commanders apprehended in Balochistan: minister

Quetta: The Balochistan government on 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 broken an important terrorist network. Terrorists Nasrullah and Idris have been arrested after a difficult operation," Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove told a presser 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.

Provincial home minister Balochistan Zia Longo told reporters that an important network of terrorism had been smashed from Balochistan and two important commanders of the banned organisation had been arrested after a difficult operation.

He said that India's hand is behind the terrorist activities, India provides financial support to the terrorists, the youth who are sitting outside have been misled, the youth should recognize the enemy's intentions and do not fall for their words. Provinces and people are being harmed.

The minister also played the video statement of the arrested terrorist Nasrullah Mehsud of the banned organization, in which the terrorist Nasrullah Mehsud said that he had carried out sabotage operations on the check posts of the Pakistan Army on the Pakistan-Afghan border, in South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan also carried out destructive activities.