Security forces have issued a public safety advisory in parts of the tribal belt, warning civilians to exercise extreme caution due to the presence of explosive devices in sensitive areas, particularly along roads, tracks, and open fields.
The advisory, circulated in the form of a written notice bearing official markings, urges residents to avoid unnecessary movement and keep children away from roadsides and unfamiliar locations. The warning states that explosives planted by terrorists remain a serious danger and that even minimal contact with such devices can result in fatal consequences.
According to the notice, terrorist elements deliberately use civilian routes and abandoned areas to plant improvised explosive devices, mortar shells, and other lethal material. The advisory specifically cautions parents to prevent children from playing outside in unsecured areas and instructs locals not to approach or touch any suspicious object under any circumstances.
The text further emphasises that terrorist groups show no regard for civilian life and often leave behind explosive remnants after fleeing an area, turning everyday spaces into death traps. Civilians are advised to immediately inform security forces or local authorities if they come across any unusual or abandoned items.
Officials say the advisory reflects ground realities faced by communities across former conflict zones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where repeated incidents have claimed the lives of children and injured dozens more due to unexploded ordnance left behind by Khawarij terrorists.
In recent months, multiple tragedies have been reported in North and South Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, and Bolan. Children have been killed after unknowingly playing with unexploded mortar shells, RPG rounds, and IED components recovered from deserted areas, riverbeds, and former militant hideouts.
During the monsoon season, authorities also warned that flash floods had washed explosive devices from mountainous border regions into populated villages, increasing the risk in low-lying areas. Security agencies repeatedly advised residents to stay away from flood paths, streams, and riverbeds.
Security officials say the advisory aims to prevent further loss of innocent lives by reinforcing awareness at the community level. “These warnings are issued because terrorists deliberately operate in ways that endanger civilians,” an official said. “The objective is to protect children and families from devices planted by Khawarij elements who have no moral or religious restraint.”
Bomb disposal squads and security forces continue clearance and search operations in affected districts, defusing explosive devices and responding to intelligence inputs. Several potential attacks have been foiled in recent weeks after timely detection of planted explosives.
Authorities have once again urged the public to cooperate fully with security agencies. Any suspicious object must not be touched and should be reported immediately to the nearest security post, police station, or emergency helpline.
Officials stress that public vigilance, combined with ongoing counter-terrorism operations, remains essential to neutralising the lingering threat posed by explosive remnants of terrorism and safeguarding civilian lives, particularly those of children.
