Irfan Khan The tribal belt of Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), stands at a familiar crossroads: between rising militancy and the state’s response through dialogue or military force. In a significant move, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced a Mushawarati Jirga to address the worsening security situation. While the step is being […]
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,
Jirga or Security Operation? Bajaur’s Civilians Bear the Brunt of a Divided Government Read More »
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
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
Crisis of Credibility as Political Dissonance Clouds Counterterrorism Response Read More »
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
From Apex Committees to Jirga Theatrics: How KP Undermines Its Own Security Read More »
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
KP Needs Leadership, Not Lip Service: Time to Put Security Before Politics Read More »
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
Terror Threat Grips KP; Playing Politics Over Army Deployment Is Public Betrayal Read More »
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
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Is Being Left to Bleed; Who Will Take Responsibility? Read More »
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
Arif Yousafzai Just days before the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government called an All Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the worsening law and order situation, political rivals who publicly abuse one another had no trouble uniting for Senate elections. Yet when it came to the lives, peace, and dignity of the people of Pakhtunkhwa, those same
When Political Hypocrisy Costs Lives in Pakhtunkhwa Read More »
