Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove Saturday said security forces, acting on intelligence information, foiled a plan by a banned organisation to use minor girls for suicide attacks. During the operation, 16-year-old Zainab and 12-year-old Fatima were taken into custody. Addressing a press conference in Quetta alongside the two teenage girls, Langove said terrorist elements were using children for terrorist activities.

The provincial home minister said security institutions often come under criticism following a single terrorist incident, but security forces also prevent numerous potential attacks through timely intelligence-based operations, details of which are not made public. He said terrorist elements in southern Balochistan had lured the two girls and attempted to prepare them for suicide attacks. He said Zainab's husband, Saif, and other members of her family had been targeted in acts of terrorism.

Later, a local commander allegedly contacted Zainab and her family and attempted to emotionally incite them against state institutions. Sixteen-year-old Zainab, who was present at the press conference, said she had been told that state institutions were responsible for her husband's killing and was persuaded to seek revenge. She said her 12-year-old cousin Fatima was also contacted.

According to Zainab and Fatima, they were taken to an undisclosed location by people associated with a banned organisation, where they were kept for around 40 days. The girls alleged that when they refused to carry out suicide attacks and expressed a desire to return home, they were subjected to violence and harassment before security forces rescued them.