The suicide attack at the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar has become another stark reminder of the growing Pakistan security challenges.
Moments after the blast at the main gate, security personnel responded quickly. They cornered the attackers and killed every militant attempting to enter the compound, stopping a much larger operation the assailants had planned. Had these militants, described as khawarij [state designated term for TTP] reached the weapons depot or any sensitive installation, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
Video footage released after the assault reveals the attackers were neither highly trained nor experienced. They appeared to be impatient young recruits, likely exploited and used as expendable assets. Instead of moving toward the central building, they attempted to take cover. Yet an attack on the headquarters of a major security force in Peshawar’s central zone has intensified concerns about rising vulnerabilities—an issue central to Pakistan security challenges.
Although Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) did not officially claim responsibility, a lesser-known militant group stepped forward. Investigators, however, traced the individuals behind the assault back to Afghanistan. This detail matters less than the broader reality shaping the current landscape: the khawarij can no longer publicly claim such attacks due to fear of backlash.
With negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s interim government stalled, despite efforts by Turkey and Iran, the prospects of any breakthrough remain slim. The Afghan Taliban and TTP now appear ideologically aligned, leaving the Afghan side unwilling to pull back support. This alignment adds another layer to Pakistan security challenges.
Given these circumstances, Pakistan has taken the only path available: targeted counterterror operations across the province. After the Peshawar attack, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, like other provinces, faces pressure to remove undocumented Afghan residents from urban areas. Reports suggest the Federal Constabulary may soon take on this responsibility. Authorities admit they lack a reliable mechanism to distinguish ordinary Afghan residents from those linked to militant groups.
The attack on the FC headquarters also raises difficult questions. The militants must have spent the night in a nearby locality, armed and wearing suicide vests, an operation impossible without local support. Law enforcement agencies are believed to have traced those who sheltered and assisted the attackers. Still, Pakistan now faces an unavoidable step: house-to-house searches, detailed screening of Afghan residents, and strict verification of tenants and local populations. In the current threat environment, such measures are no longer optional. Authorities must monitor residential areas, commercial centres, warehouses, and the movement of goods to ensure no activity operates outside official oversight.
Public cooperation is crucial, but it remains inconsistent. Residents often claim that police ignore complaints and instead work with illegally residing Afghan nationals, releasing them after taking bribes. If such practices continue, they will undermine all counterterrorism efforts and further complicate Pakistan security challenges.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government must avoid vague or half-hearted approaches. It must align itself with federal policies, much like other provinces. Only coordinated and unified strategies can counter the violent resurgence of the khawarij.
The current security crisis extends beyond the Peshawar attack. Across the province, security forces operate daily, tracking networks, intercepting plots, and neutralising threats. Yet the provincial government’s indication that it may reduce cooperation with federal agencies is deeply concerning. Such a move would increase pressure on the police and weaken broader counterterror efforts.
What Pakistan needs now is unity, not fragmentation. Civil and military institutions must work as a single, coordinated system to carry out cleansing operations across the province. The sooner defensive and preventive measures are enacted, the sooner the public may regain a sense of security, something increasingly rare amid escalating security challenges.
