RAWALPINDI: Six suspected terrorists were apprehended along with a cache of arms and ammunition during a combing operation in Kallar Syedan and Gujar Khan areas of Rawalpindi district on Thursday, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement.

Amongst the persons arrested are two “important” militant commanders. Prepared improvised explosive devices (IED) were also recovered from their possession, said the statement.

Combing operations, which are underway across the country, are the latest initiative undertaken by the army against hiding ‘terrorists’ and terrorist sleeper cells.

A day after the horrific militant attack in Quetta which left over 70 people dead, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif had instructed corps commanders and intelligence outfits to further intensify combing and targeted operations with the aim to eliminate terrorists and sleepers cells.

In an unrelated development, four suspected suicide bombers were arrested in a raid by security forces in Khyber Agency’s Jamrud tehsil, officials said.

Five suicide jackets and 15 kilograms of explosives were recovered from the suspects’ possession.

The alleged terrorists appeared to have entered Khyber Agency through the Afghanistan border, said Assistant Political agent Ziaur Rehman

Security sources said the suspects were planning to attack security installments and hospitals on August 14 during Independence Day celebrations in Peshawar.

Rehman said the alleged militants have been shifted to a undisclosed location for further interrogation.