Emergency in KP: A Hard Decision Born of Terrorism, Political Deadlock
PESHAWAR – After a long tug of war, the authorities have finally imposed an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The decision goes far beyond routine administration. Deteriorating law and order, persistent terrorism and a bitter political struggle between the federal and provincial governments have together pushed the province to this point. When disputes paralyse cooperation […]
Terrorism in KP Surges 195%; Drone Attacks Hit 170 in 2026
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 […]
How Long Can KP Bear the Economic Cost of Terrorism?
PESHAWAR—For years, terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has taken lives, displaced families and disrupted communities. One tragedy has followed another, leaving behind grieving families and a province that continues to carry the social and economic consequences of prolonged insecurity. Yet the cost of terrorism is not measured only in lives lost or buildings damaged. Every […]
Maryam Nawaz should think twice before turning terrorism into a provincial blame game
PESHAWAR – There are moments in politics when a sentence carries consequences far beyond the person who speaks it. Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s recent remarks about terrorism and its alleged links to neighboring provinces came at precisely such a moment. Pakistan is already confronting a renewed security challenge, while political tensions and mistrust between the provinces […]
The Front Line Is Holding. The Institution Behind It Is Not.
PESHAWAR – Three police officers were killed in Lower Dir. In Bannu, another attack ended differently—not because the threat had diminished, but because officers on duty stopped a suicide bomber before he reached his target. Between these two incidents lies the story of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today: a conflict that has become both familiar […]
Roadside Blast Targets Police APC in Tank: Two Officers Martyred, Three Injured
PESHAWAR – Security forces have launched a massive combing operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southwestern region following a fatal roadside attack. Specifically, terrorists targeted a police armored personnel carrier (APC) with an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Tank District, leaving two police officers martyred and three others critically wounded. Targeted Strike on Routine Patrol According […]
Saboteurs Detonate Gas Pipeline in Bannu, Disrupting Regional Supply
PESHAWAR – A main supply network has suffered severe damage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southwestern region following a targeted sabotage attack. Specifically, unknown miscreants used explosive materials to blow up a vital gas pipeline in Bannu, triggering immediate supply disruptions and raising local security concerns. According to local police reports, the blast took place within the […]
7 Killed, 3 Injured as Twin IED Blasts Target Civilian Vehicle in Bannu
BANNU— At least seven people were killed and three others, including children, sustained injuries on Friday following consecutive Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts in the Barghanto semi-tribal area of Bannu, security and administrative officials confirmed. The dual explosions targeted a civilian transport vehicle before a secondary blast went off as rescue operations were underway. Pakistan […]
Hunt, Neutralize, Infiltrate: Inside KP’s Brutal New Elite Anti-Terror Squad
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police has officially approved the Special Combat Unit Rules and Regulations 2026. This new legal framework will govern a highly specialized force designed to launch decisive operations against terrorists. According to KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, recruitment will follow incredibly strict standards. The department will select only 400 […]
Aqeel Yousafzai launches ‘war theatre’ amid rising regional security concerns
PESHAWAR — Senior journalist and security analyst Aqeel Yousafzai has launched his latest book, War Theatre, a detailed account of militancy, regional conflict, proxy warfare, and political instability shaping Pakistan and the wider region after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The launch of War Theatre comes at a time when Pakistan, […]