Customs officials, chamber president kidnapped in K-P

Abductions in South Waziristan raise suspicions of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s involvement, authorities say.

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Unidentified assailants kidnap two Pakistan Customs officials and the president of a local Chamber of Commerce in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday, escalating the region’s ongoing security challenges.

The abductions occurred in the South Waziristan district, an area known for its increasing instability amid a deteriorating security situation in the region.

According to Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan, the incident took place in the Sholam area while the victims were returning from Angor Adda.

The kidnapped individuals were identified as Customs Superintendent Nisar Abbasi, Inspector Khushal, and Saif-ur-Rehman, the president of the Waziristan Chambers of Commerce.

The motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear, but authorities suspect the involvement of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that has been increasingly active in KP since the collapse of a fragile truce between the Taliban and the Pakistani state in November 2022.

The TTP, along with other militant groups, has been targeting security personnel, government officials, and civilians in a series of violent attacks, including targeted killings and abductions.

The kidnapping of these officials is the latest in a series of incidents that have plagued the region. Recently, Dr. Nauman, a worker with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was abducted in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan.

Additionally, on January 9, the Pakistani Taliban kidnapped over a dozen workers from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in Lakki Marwat, though some have since been released.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, local authorities have heightened their suspicion of the TTP's involvement, as the group has been known to target officials and civilians alike. The district administration and police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

The surge in militancy and abductions has raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in KP. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring militant groups that operate across the border, intensifying Pakistan’s security challenges.

Afghan officials, however, deny these allegations, asserting that Pakistan’s internal security issues should be addressed domestically.

Authorities continue to work on resolving these high-profile kidnappings, but the growing threat posed by militant groups in the region remains a significant concern for Pakistan’s security and stability.