Terror attacks in K-P surge 195% since 2024

ISLAMABAD:

Terrorist incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) increased by 195% between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026, while drone attacks rose sharply, with the provincial police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) facing serious shortages of modern weapons, operational equipment and trained personnel, according to two security reports presented to the federal cabinet.

The reports, prepared by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police and intelligence agencies, were presented by Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) Fuad Asadullah at a high-level cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday.

According to the reports, the sharp rise in terrorist attacks over the past two years had become a serious security challenge for the province.

They attributed the worsening situation to terrorist elements based in Afghanistan, local facilitators, what they described as the provincial government's flawed policies and its soft approach towards militants, as well as inadequate preparedness and counterterrorism measures at the provincial level.

The reports said 73% of terrorist attacks recorded in K-P during 2026 targeted police and security personnel, underscoring the growing pressure on law enforcement agencies.

They highlighted a dramatic change in terrorist tactics, particularly the use of drones. No drone attacks against police and security forces were reported in 2024, but the number of such attacks reached 170 by 2026. The reports also pointed to a 107% increase in terrorist drone attacks over the preceding year.

Explosive attacks remained another major concern. The number of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks rose to 181 in 2025, while 159 such incidents had been recorded by September 2026.

The reports stressed that strengthening the operational capacity of police and other law enforcement agencies had become essential to counter the evolving tactics of militant groups.

The reports also highlighted significant gaps in the province's policing infrastructure, noting that the Safe City project for the entire province remained limited to Peshawar.

More than 9,000 posts in the K-P police were vacant, while the police and CTD faced severe shortages of modern weapons and essential operational equipment.

The situation was particularly challenging in the southern districts most affected by terrorism, where a shortage of armoured and protected vehicles was hampering police mobility and operational effectiveness.

The reports said police and CTD personnel lacked adequate modern surveillance and intelligence-gathering equipment.