‘Major crackdowns in Karachi, Lahore prevented mass genocide in Pak’

LAHORE - Pakistani security agencies have revealed that over the past few months they have seized over 67,000 kilogrammes of explosives in Karachi and Lahore.

The agencies said that they had also found smart third generation bombs, anti-aircraft guns, grenades, suicide vests and lethal chemicals, which could have been used to kill thousands of people.

Talking about the major crackdowns, a top Pakistani intelligence official said that it prevented Al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups from carrying out “mass genocide and slaughter” of civilians.

However, the official warned that Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist attacks were still expected “from Karachi to the Tribal Areas”.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Al-Qaeda has now gradually shifted its base from North Waziristan to urban areas of Pakistan.

The group has also cemented alliances with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and is even funding various sectarian groups in Punjab and Sindh, the Daily Times reports. (ANI)