Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials report that peace could be restored in 12 restive districts within three months if local council members and residents successfully urge militants to vacate their regions.
This strategy relies on community pressure rather than direct armed engagement, according to provincial spokespeople.
Three-Month Security Timeline
The government’s plan involves members of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) communicating directly with militant groups. “The prime minister gave a clear message to ARDC members that he does not want them to fight terrorists but to tell them to leave their areas,” said Mehmood Jan Babar, a spokesperson for the 12 designated districts, during a news conference at Peshawar’s police headquarters on Wednesday.
Mr. Jan said that if the council and local residents succeed, militancy may never return to these areas. However, he cautioned that these efforts face hurdles similar to those encountered under the previous government.
“Pakistan has always presented its anti-terrorism case before the world along with evidence. It is not just one terrorist but a whole series, a chain that shows no sign of coming to an end. They take advantage of the cover of darkness, enter Pakistan and plan [terrorist activities]” said Mehmood Jan Babar, a spokesperson for the 12 designated districts, alleging that Afghan soil remains a continuous source of terrorist activities against Pakistan.
In August 2024, the regional instability was highlighted by scenes of civilians fleeing after terrorist attacks in Balochistan’s Bolan district.
Intelligence-Based Operations
Security forces are concurrently conducting targeted intelligence-based operations. On Nov. 7, officials arrested Hikmatullah, identified as a former member of the Afghan National Army (ANA), in the Tirah valley of the Khyber tribal district.
Additional Inspector General Abbas Ahsan stated the suspect was planning an attack on a security checkpost at the time of his arrest. According to Mr. Ahsan, mobile phone data, calls and locations in both countries are being tracked to identify further facilitators.
Did You Know? The arrested suspect, Hikmatullah, allegedly received three months of terrorist training and three months of commando training while serving in the Afghan National Army before later teaching at a seminary in Jalalabad.
According to Mr. Ahsan, the detainee had been involved in training suicide bombers. A video of the suspect confessing to his involvement in terrorist activities was presented to the media during the briefing.
Provinces Designate Districts for Emergency Status and Anti-Drone Deployment
To address the delicate law and order situation, the province has designated 12 districts for emergency status. Ahsan. The briefing said that the police’s drone protection capability was reported to be low, while the availability of operational transport stood at a low level. Officials aim to increase CTD capacity and overall police capacity.
Security forces are deploying anti-drone systems to counter the use of drones by militants, a challenge that emerged last year. Long-range systems are being installed in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, with plans to expand coverage to smaller cities over the next six months. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has emphasized that the government is committed to providing necessary resources to security forces to ensure a coordinated strategy against militancy.
Governor Kundi, who criticized the previous PTI-led government for contributing to political unrest, announced he would present further details on provincial performance at a press conference on November 11. The governor stated he had given deputy commissioners full authority to remove illegal structures and said any officer showing leniency would be held responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Area Representative and Development Council?
The ARDC members are tasked by the prime minister with persuading militants to leave their respective regions. The goal is to clear these areas of terrorist influence within three months without the council members engaging in direct combat.
How are officials addressing the threat of drone attacks?
Security forces are installing long-range anti-drone systems in districts like Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan. Additional medium-range systems are planned for deployment in smaller cities over the next six months.
What specific security measures are being implemented for the 12 designated districts?
The districts are under an emergency status with a specialized funding package. It remains unclear exactly when the full scale of the planned infrastructure upgrades will be completed or how the tracking of cross-border communications will impact future arrest operations.
Keep reading