ISLAMABAD—Terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rose 195 percent between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026, nearly tripling over the period. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the intelligence agencies revealed the figures in two special security reports they presented at a meeting chaired by the prime minister.
The reports warn that the steady rise in attacks now poses a grave threat to the province’s security. They also identify the links between terrorist networks, facilitators, and illegal activities as a serious security challenge.
The Numbers at a Glance
195% rise in terrorist incidents from March 2024 to September 2026, almost three times the earlier level
3 in 4 Militants targeted police and security forces in 73% of attacks in 2026
0 to 170 Militants carried out no drone attacks in 2024 but launched 170 in 2026
107% Drone attacks roughly doubled in a single year
159 IED attacks recorded by September this year, an average of more than 17 a month
88% Militants have already matched nearly 88% of last year’s 181 IED attacks in just nine months
9,000+ Vacant posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police
1 city The province-wide Safe City project still covers only Peshawar
Cross-border militants, facilitators, and provincial policy
The intelligence agencies’ report holds terrorist elements based in Afghanistan and their local facilitators responsible for the rising threat. It also blames the provincial government’s weak policy and soft stance towards militants. According to the report, gaps in provincial preparedness, focus and effective counter-terrorism measures gave militants the space to entrench themselves.
The report states that militants directed 73 percent of all attacks in 2026 at police and security forces. In other words, law enforcement agencies absorbed nearly three of every four attacks in the province.
Drones and explosives change the face of militancy
The report flags the militants’ growing use of drones as a major concern. Militants carried out no drone attacks on police or security forces in 2024, yet they launched 170 such attacks in 2026. Drone attacks rose by about 107 percent within a single year, almost doubling.
Explosive attacks also climbed sharply. Militants carried out 181 IED attacks in 2025, and authorities have already recorded 159 this year up to September. That figure equals nearly 88 percent of last year’s total, with three months of the year still remaining.
Resource gaps weaken police response
The report urges the government to strengthen police and law enforcement capacity to counter the changing tactics of militants. The Safe City project, which planners designed for the whole province, still covers only Peshawar, and more than 9,000 posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police remain vacant. The report adds that police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) face a severe shortage of modern weapons and essential operational equipment.
