Opinion

Bajaur, Terrorism in tribal districts, Ali Amin Gandapur, Security Operations, Peace Jirga

Jirga or Security Operation? Bajaur’s Civilians Bear the Brunt of a Divided Government

Opinion /

The return of violence to Bajaur and the broader tribal belt is a tragic reminder that our state continues to oscillate between reaction and retreat in its approach to militancy. The recent launch of Operation Sarbakaf in Bajaur, meant to target the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, has stirred protests not just from the people, […]

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Jirga Ultimatums, Refugee Crackdown and the Question of Peace: Can Dialogue Still Avert Another War in KP?

Opinion /

Irfan Khan In the rugged borderlands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a familiar uncertainty is returning. Once again, communities find themselves trapped between the threat of militancy and the promise of peace. What’s different this time, however, is that the first line of resistance is not the state but the people. In areas like Tirah, Mamund, and

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Crisis of Credibility as Political Dissonance Clouds Counterterrorism Response

Opinion /

Arif Yousafzai   As Operation Sarbakkaf commenced in Bajaur with the declared aim of countering the growing militant threat, Pakistan once again finds itself at a critical juncture where the absence of political consistency threatens to overshadow the efforts of its security forces. Rather than providing unified backing to the state’s counterterrorism initiatives, political leadership

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Security, Apex Committee Meeting, Jirga Theatrics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Terrorism in KP

From Apex Committees to Jirga Theatrics: How KP Undermines Its Own Security

Opinion /

The recent meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was presented as a high-level effort to unify the province’s leadership, security apparatus, and political forces against the rising tide of terrorism. On paper, such meetings are critical; in reality, they are being undermined by political point scoring, mistrust, and an alarming alignment of

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Security, Terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Bajaur and Tirah, Pakistan Army

KP Needs Leadership, Not Lip Service: Time to Put Security Before Politics

Opinion /

The current wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), particularly the escalating situation in Bajaur, has once again exposed a bitter truth: when it comes to public safety and national security, the PTI-led provincial government is failing to rise above politics. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur seems more concerned with optics than outcomes. His preference

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Army, Terror Threat in KP, Army Withdrawal From KP, Operation Sarbakaf, Ali Amin Gandapur

Terror Threat Grips KP; Playing Politics Over Army Deployment Is Public Betrayal

Opinion /

The recent motion by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, demanding the withdrawal of the army under Article 245, raises serious concerns. Not just about security policy, but about political responsibility, denialism, and the dangerous game of narrative building being played at the cost of national stability. Let’s be clear: Article 245

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Militancy in KP, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Tirah Incident

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Is Being Left to Bleed; Who Will Take Responsibility?

Opinion /

The deteriorating security landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is no longer a distant issue confined to tribal peripheries, it now threatens the very heart of the province. From the rugged mountains of Waziristan to the settled districts surrounding Peshawar, the footprint of militancy has expanded with alarming pace. Yet, despite the rising violence and clear

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at War Within: How Political Hypocrisy is Undermining Pakistan’s Battle Against Terror

Opinion /

Brig (R) Mehmood Shah   The deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a matter of grave concern. With the surge in terrorist activities, the region has once again become vulnerable to a threat that was, until recently, under relative control. Yet, instead of unified action, we witness political confusion, shifting loyalties, and rhetorical resistance

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APC, KP's All Parties Conference, Ali Amin Gandapur, Mohsin Naqvi, Counter-terrorism Operations in KP

Mismanaged and Misguided: Why KP’s APC Failed Before It Began

Opinion /

The recent All Parties Conference, or APC, convened by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government was, by every serious measure, an opportunity wasted. While it was billed as an inclusive forum to address the province’s deteriorating security landscape, what unfolded was a textbook case of political mismanagement, poor planning, and a dangerously unserious approach to a

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