Pakistan‘s Intelligence Bureau has issued a high alert about several terrorist outfits, including Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)’s, potential plan to kidnap foreigners attending the ongoing Champions Trophy in the country for ransom.
Sources told CNN-News18 that an alert has been issued against several terror outfits, including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS and other Balochistan-based groups.
Following the alert issued by the Bureau, Pakistani security forces have deployed high-level protection teams to ensure the safety of players and other supporting staff members.
The terror outfit is said to be specifically targeting Chinese and Arab nationals, conducting surveillance at ports, airports, offices, and residential areas frequently used by visitors from these countries, reported India Today news channel.
According to intelligence reports, ISKP operatives plan to rent properties on the outskirts of cities as safe houses, deliberately choosing locations without camera surveillance and accessible only by rickshaw or motorcycle, the news channel reported.
The group is planning to shift the kidnapped individuals between safe houses at night to evade security forces.
In 2024, terrorists attacked Chinese engineers in Shangla.
The Champions Trophy marked the return of an ICC event after a gap of 29 years in Pakistan.
The South Asian country had last co-hosted the ICC World Cup in 1996 with India and Sri Lanka.
International cricket was not played in Pakistan for several years and foreign teams refused to travel to the country after gunmen attacked a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore in 2009.
India Playing in Dubai
India refused to travel to Pakistan to participate in the tournament and instead opted to play their matches in Dubai.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his dismay over India’s decision to play their Champions Trophy at a neutral venue- Dubai.
“It is disappointing- not just for the PCB, but also for cricket fans worldwide, the ICC, its commercial partners and the other participating countries that India is not playing in. Pakistan,” he said, according to PTI.
(With inputs from IBNS)
