Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has just nine M4 rifles, 11 night-vision devices and 17 bulletproof vehicles for its entire force, according to Ikhtiar Wali, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator, raising questions about the department’s operational preparedness amid persistent terrorism threats in the province.
The figures highlight the reported shortage of essential weapons, surveillance equipment and protective mobility resources available to the department responsible for investigating terrorist networks and supporting counterterrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The province, which has been at the forefront of Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, continues to face security challenges, making the operational capacity of its counterterrorism institutions a critical concern.
Night-vision devices are used to support operations in low-light conditions, while bulletproof vehicles provide protection and mobility for personnel operating in high-risk areas. M4 rifles are among the weapons used by security forces in counterterrorism operations.
The reported availability of only 11 night-vision devices and 17 bulletproof vehicles for the entire CTD force raises questions about how the department allocates these resources across its operational requirements.
The figures also draw attention to the condition of the department under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has governed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for more than 13 years across successive terms and is currently serving its third consecutive term.
However, the disclosed figures do not provide details about the department’s total personnel strength, its complete inventory of weapons and equipment, or the distribution of available resources among its units.
The provincial government has yet to provide a response to the reported figures in the information available for this report.
The disclosure has brought renewed attention to the resources available to the CTD and the broader question of whether the department has the equipment necessary to meet the province’s counterterrorism requirements.
