The regional branch of Islamic State Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for recent target killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Bajaur, through its weekly publication Al-Naba.
According to the publication, the group referred to two separate incidents, claiming that the individuals killed were allegedly involved in espionage activities in support of the Government of Pakistan.
The magazine also included images of a pistol, which the group claims was seized during an attack on Pakistani personnel in Bajaur.
Following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Afghan Taliban in 2021, ISKP has increasingly focused its operations towards Pakistan.
Security assessments indicate that the group is expanding its presence in border regions such as Bajaur and North Waziristan, where instability and cross-border movement provide operational space.
Although ISKP and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are rivals, both continue to operate within an environment shaped by the influence of the Afghan Taliban, where multiple armed groups remain active.
Recent attack patterns suggest a shift towards low-visibility, targeted killings, involving prior surveillance, selection of specific individuals, and possible local facilitation.
