Serious institutional shortcomings, inadequate security resources, manpower shortages, inconsistent Afghanistan policy and misleading propaganda have weakened counterterrorism efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, stronger law enforcement capabilities and a coordinated security strategy.
A detailed assessment of the province’s law and order situation and counterterrorism challenges has highlighted critical gaps in police capacity, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) infrastructure, operational preparedness, surveillance systems and financial resources. The findings point to the need for sustained investment, institutional strengthening and improved coordination among security institutions to effectively counter the growing terrorist threat.
Despite the critical security challenges facing the merged districts, only 3.2 percent of the security budget was allocated to them. The police force faced a shortage of 10,587 personnel, while 15,186 Levies and Khasadar personnel were merged into the police, many of whom lacked formal education, with several above the age of 50. Overall, the police manpower shortfall stood at 15 percent.
The police also faced a 36 percent shortage of transportation facilities and an alarming 88 percent deficit in counter-drone systems. The CTD was operating with a shortage of 638 personnel, inadequate SWAT teams, delayed recruitment processes and vacant command positions.
Despite its establishment in 2014, CTD infrastructure had been developed in only 12 of the province’s 37 districts. Furthermore, against an approved allocation of Rs6.4 billion for 22 districts, only Rs1 billion had been released, severely restricting the department’s operational expansion.
The human cost of terrorism remains devastating. From 2024 to September 2026, a total of 2,438 people lost their lives, including 1,003 military personnel, 627 police personnel and 808 civilians. During the same period, security forces eliminated 3,788 terrorists through sustained counterterrorism operations.
The assessment also highlighted the extensive economic damage caused by illegal activities. A total of 830 smuggling cases involving goods worth Rs5.08 billion, 19,978 narcotics cases valued at Rs3.823 billion, 82 extortion cases worth Rs36.8 million and 216 cases involving non-custom-paid (NCP) vehicles valued at Rs1.088 billion were recorded. The cumulative annual economic loss from these activities was estimated at Rs10.0278 billion.
To address these longstanding deficiencies, a comprehensive security modernization and capacity-building programme has been proposed. Following expenditure of Rs98 billion on security over the past decade, an additional Rs70.1 billion is proposed for future security initiatives, including Rs59.8 billion for the police and Rs10.3 billion for the CTD.
The proposed programme includes strengthening police installations, expanding Safe City projects, introducing anti-drone systems in three districts, establishing nerve centres in 10 districts and setting up a dedicated Safe Cities Authority.
Key infrastructure targets include strengthening 75 percent of police installations, achieving 60 percent surveillance coverage, establishing CTD infrastructure in all 34 targeted districts and achieving 70 percent CTD surveillance coverage. Approximately Rs38.7 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development, while Rs31.3 billion is allocated for equipment procurement.
The proposed reforms place particular emphasis on modern technology, intelligence gathering and operational preparedness. Key initiatives include Safe Cities legislation, the establishment of faceless Anti-Terrorism Courts, satellite communication systems and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor and counter the Fitna Al-Khawarij (FAK) narrative and its propaganda networks.
The programme also envisages expanding police facilitation centres, establishing overseas centres and strengthening coordination with local communities through Dispute Resolution Councils (DRCs), tribal liaison committees, regular jirgas involving tribal elders and religious scholars, and monthly open forums.
Smart front desks are also planned across all 406 police stations to improve public access, service delivery and institutional responsiveness.
Joint training programmes with the Pakistan Army will focus on modern warfare and counterterrorism requirements, including drone operations, counter-drone systems, sniping and armoured personnel carrier (APC) driving. The proposed reforms also include improvements in compensation packages for martyrs and increases in security challenge allowances for personnel serving in high-risk areas.
Operational measures will include accelerating intelligence-based operations, clearing terrorist-infested areas, arresting facilitators, verifying Fourth Schedule-listed individuals, strengthening Rapid Response Forces (RRF), expanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, monitoring illegal spectrum usage on a daily basis and establishing additional security checkpoints.
The proposed plan sets ambitious targets to address critical operational deficiencies in the police force.
Police counter-aerial capabilities are targeted to increase from 1 to 50 percent, aerial attack and night-fighting capabilities from 18 to 50 percent, vehicle armouring from 19 to 45 percent, APC availability from 61 to 80 percent, vehicle availability from 50 to 70 percent and jammer availability from 40 to 50 percent.
For the CTD, counter-drone capabilities are targeted to increase from 52 to 60 percent, vehicle availability from 50 to 80 percent, vehicle armouring from 16 to 70 percent and jammer availability from 3 to 50 percent.
The programme also aims to reduce the overall police manpower shortage from 15 percent to 5 percent, recruit CTD operators through the Special Police Force (SPV), fill vacant command positions and eliminate the existing 79 percent shortage of protective equipment by achieving 100 percent availability.
The proposed reforms represent a comprehensive effort to address the structural weaknesses that have hindered counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The emphasis is on transforming the police and CTD into better-equipped, technologically advanced and operationally capable institutions, while strengthening intelligence coordination and community engagement.
The ultimate objective is to dismantle terrorist networks, eliminate their support structures, prevent the spread of extremist propaganda, restore public confidence and establish sustainable peace across the province.
The assessment makes it clear that defeating terrorism requires more than operational responses alone; it demands institutional reforms, adequate resources, modern technology, effective intelligence coordination and an unwavering commitment to national security.
