India arrests 200 alleged Pakistan-linked terror operatives before Independence Day

India's security agencies have arrested more than 200 individuals identified as "terror operatives" with alleged links to Pakistan, thwarting potential "subversive attacks" around the nation's Independence Day. Home Minister Amit Shah announced the crackdown, describing it as one of the largest in recent years and targeting a terror group purportedly backed by Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The multi-state operation, conducted on August 12 across 14 Indian states, occurred just three days before India celebrated its 80th anniversary of independence. Shah posted on X that the "Modi government destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks." Security forces reportedly recovered pistols, live cartridges, grenades marked with Pakistan Ordnance Factory insignia, and crude bombs during the operation.

India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, have long accused each other of fostering terrorism within their borders. The two nations engaged in a significant military conflict the previous year after India attributed an attack in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 people, to Pakistani assailants.

In a separate development, Pakistan's security forces reported killing two terrorists and injuring three others during an intelligence-based operation in the Killi Zaik area of Balochistan, according to state media. Pakistan TV cited security sources indicating the operation was prompted by reports of terrorist presence in the region. A spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Modi government destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives.