By: Musawir Qureshi
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly its southern districts, is once again under the shadow of severe terrorism. For the past several years, religious scholars and police personnel have repeatedly been targeted, and today’s attack on a police checkpoint in the Fateh Khel area of Bannu not only challenged the security institutions but also spread a fresh wave of fear and panic among the public.
According to initial reports, terrorists targeted the Fateh Khel police post under the cover of darkness. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of several police personnel, plunging the entire province into grief. Some civilians were also affected due to gunfire and the resulting panic.
Following this incident, the same question is once again being raised: why is terrorism continuously increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
There are several reasons behind this situation. The first major reason is the changing situation in Afghanistan. Since the political transition in Afghanistan, an increase in the movement of terrorist organizations has been observed in border areas. Pakistan has repeatedly maintained that certain banned organizations are using Afghan soil. Although Afghan authorities deny these allegations, Pakistani institutions claim that arrested militants, intelligence reports, and evidence of cross-border connections point toward this threat.
Another significant reason is the weak security structure at the local level and the lack of necessary resources for the police force. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has long served as a frontline force against terrorism, but continuous attacks, shortage of personnel, limited resources, and political instability have created a growing sense of vulnerability within the force.
This is precisely why terrorists often target police officers and religious scholars. Police represent the authority of the state, while religious scholars hold intellectual and social influence within society. By targeting these two groups, terrorist elements seek to create fear, chaos, and uncertainty so that the state system weakens and public trust declines.
The question now is: who is responsible for this situation?
The reality is that responsibility for an issue like terrorism cannot be placed on a single institution alone. The federal government is responsible for strengthening national security policy, foreign strategy, and intelligence coordination. The provincial government must strengthen the police, improve local governance, and restore public confidence in affected areas. Meanwhile, security forces are tasked with counterterrorism operations and ensuring border surveillance. If there is no complete coordination among these institutions, terrorists exploit these gaps.
After such incidents, the role of the Apex Committee becomes extremely important. The Apex Committee is essentially a joint civil-military forum where the security situation is reviewed, intelligence sharing is improved, and major operations are approved.
After the Bannu attack, it is expected that the Apex Committee will convene an emergency meeting in which decisions may be taken regarding new security operations in the southern districts, border management, stricter action against banned organizations, and improving police capacity.
At this moment, the most important question is not about taking “revenge” but about establishing lasting peace.
Military operations alone are not enough. Political stability, local development, employment opportunities for youth, modern education, and an effective intelligence network are equally essential. If the state remains limited to temporary actions, this wave of terrorism may rise again.
Pakistan currently needs a comprehensive national strategy. Border monitoring must be strengthened further, the National Action Plan must be implemented in its true spirit, the financial networks of banned organizations must be dismantled, and effective action must also be taken against extremist propaganda on social media.
At the same time, restoring the confidence of both police and the public in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—especially in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and the tribal districts—has become the greatest need of the hour.
Today, every citizen of the province is asking: how long will this province continue to burn in the fire of terrorism?
People are also questioning why peace is possible in other parts of the country but not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The answer to this question lies not in statements, but in practical action. Until the state rises above political differences and adopts a united national policy, terrorist elements will continue to exploit weaknesses.
The Fateh Khel attack is not merely a security incident; it is a warning that if immediate, serious, and united measures are not taken, the situation may become even more complicated.
The blood of Bannu’s martyrs demands that the state should not merely react, but should lay the foundation for lasting peace so that future generations are not forced to live under the shadow of fear and terror.
