ISLAMABAD — Counter-terrorism units and local police arrested five suspects early Wednesday following the abduction of two individuals from the outskirts of the Islamabad International Airport.
The operation, which unfolded in the pre-dawn hours, ended a tense standoff that began late Tuesday night. Police intercepted the kidnappers’ vehicle near the Fateh Jang area after tracking their movement through CCTV footage and cellular data.
The victims — both residents of Rawalpindi — were intercepted by armed men shortly after leaving the airport terminal. Investigators believe the motive was a targeted financial dispute rather than a random act of street crime.
“We identified the vehicle within hours of the report,” a senior police official said. “Our teams cornered them before they could move the victims to a secondary location.”
The suspects are currently being held at a local police station. Authorities recovered two pistols and a vehicle with tampered license plates during the arrests. While the police declined to disclose the identities of the victims citing security protocols, they confirmed the two individuals were reunited with their families by Wednesday morning.
The incident has reignited concerns regarding security protocols on the airport approach road. Despite increased surveillance cameras installed over the last year, the area remains a blind spot for commuters traveling late at night.
For now, the focus shifts to the interrogation of the five suspects. Police are investigating whether the group is linked to a larger network operating in the twin cities, or if this was an isolated incident of targeted kidnapping.
“We’re looking at their history,” the official added. “If they’ve done this before, the charges will be significantly heavier.”
