Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has reported a sharp rise in attacks on police this year, alongside a significant expansion in intelligence-led operations, painting a mixed picture of escalating threats and a more aggressive state response.
According to official CTD report, attacks on police increased from 327 last year to 510 this year. At the same time, the department stepped up its operations, recording a 3% rise in intelligence-based activity, signalling a shift towards more preventive and targeted action.
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The number of counter-terrorism operations also grew. CTD teams carried out 2,703 operations in the previous year, rising to 2,791 operations this year. Arrests showed an even sharper increase, with 744 suspects detained last year compared with 1,244 this year, reflecting an intensified crackdown on militant networks.
Among those arrested were 25 high-value militants, all of whom carried officially announced head money. Officials said these arrests were the result of improved surveillance, better coordination between field units and more effective intelligence sharing.
| Indicator | Last Year | This Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police Attacks | 327 | 510 | Increase |
| CTD Operations | 2,703 | 2,791 | Increase |
| Arrests | 744 | 1,244 | Increase |
| High-Value Terrorists Arrested | — | 25 | New |
| Terrorist Attacks | 147 | 137 | Decrease |
| Bomb Blasts | 277 | 108 | Decrease |
| Landmines Recovered | 420 | 43 | Decrease |
| Terrorism Cases Registered | 1,058 | 1,588 | Increase |
| Police Retaliatory Actions | — | 320 | New |
| Increase in Operations vs Last 5 Years | — | 102% | Increase |
In a notable trend, overall terrorist attacks showed a slight decline. The department recorded 147 terrorist attacks last year, compared with 137 this year. Bomb blasts dropped significantly from 277 incidents to 108, while the number of recovered landmines fell from 420 to 43, suggesting that supply chains for explosives and improvised devices have been increasingly disrupted.
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At the same time, the legal response to militancy expanded. Terrorism-related cases rose by 50%, from 1,058 to 1,588 cases, indicating a greater focus on prosecuting suspects and dismantling support networks through the courts. Police also adopted a more forceful posture in the field. In response to 158 terrorist attacks, law enforcement agencies carried out 320 retaliatory actions.
Over a longer horizon, CTD statistics show a 102% increase in operations against Here’s a simple table created directly:
The officials maintained that, despite the heightened threat environment, the state’s security architecture is becoming more coordinated and more capable of targeting militant infrastructure.
