Opinion

Bajaur, Displacement in Bajaur, Mamund, Sufi Muhammad’s TNSM movement, Military Operation in Mamund

Another Operation, Another Displacement: Where Is KP’s Leadership in Bajaur Crisis?

Opinion /

As the security situation in Bajaur tehsil deteriorates and a military operation has commenced in Mamund, we are once again witnessing a familiar pattern: a delayed response to militancy, mass displacement of civilians, and a glaring absence of clear political leadership. The latest advisory directing the relocation of civilians from 33 areas is not just […]

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Pak-Afghan Relations, Tribal Jirgas, and the Dilemma of Peace or Operation

Opinion /

Fida Adeel   The delicate balance between peace and conflict in Pakistan’s tribal districts is once again under scrutiny as recent developments in Khyber, Bajaur, and other tribal areas highlight the complex interplay between local Jirgas, militant presence, and state security policy. Against the backdrop of evolving Pak-Afghan relations, the path forward whether through dialogue

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Security Crisis Demands a Sincere, Unified Response, Not Political Posturing

Opinion /

Arif Yousafzai Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today is gripped by a security crisis that is neither hidden from the public nor from those in power. The Inspector General of Police himself admits that the province receives 30 to 35 threat alerts every single day. These alerts are shared with intelligence agencies, and timely operations are carried out

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Jirgas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bajaur jirga, TTP in Tirah, Ali Amin Gandapur

Jirgas, Denial, and the Dangerous Drift in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Opinion /

The state’s reliance on jirgas in the face of terrorism is a glaring admission of institutional failure. In 2025, as violence surges across the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we find ourselves recycling the very tactics that led to previous disasters. The jirga system, once a tool of local dispute resolution, has now become

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The Crisis in KP: Peace, Propaganda and the Perils of Parallel Power

Opinion /

Zahir Shah Sherazi In recent months, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an alarming resurgence of militant presence and coercive influence in its tribal districts. From Bajaur to North Waziristan, reports of armed groups harassing locals and undermining state authority are again making headlines. While the government insists this is part of a broader security operation aimed

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Jirgas, Operations, and the Fight for Peace in Tribal Areas: Between Hope and Hard Reality

Opinion /

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

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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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