DND Report
The agenda of PTI of promoting chaos, unrest, and sit-ins in the country is facilitating terrorism, and even settled areas in KP are out of provincial writ where terrorists are running their governance, and such a situation has spread as close to cities as the Bara district.
There is no doubt left that PTI has always ignored national security issues and prioritized its politics over the interests of the country. Despite numerous invitations from the National Security Committee, PTI’s non-participation is clear evidence that this party is not serious in the fight against terrorism, and its destruction of law and order in the country is one of its agendas through which it tries to create anarchy. The anti-state agenda in the narratives of the PTI and on social media, for the fulfillment of which foreign lobbies, has taken a dangerous form.
Terrorism has been Pakistan’s biggest problem, and every government and institution has stressed the need for joint efforts against it. But when it came time to attend important meetings like the National Security Committee, the PTI displayed its lack of seriousness and kept itself aloof from these issues. This attitude not only shows their apathy but also proves that this party is only interested in power games and has no connection with the public interest.
The most worrying thing is that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI was in power, there were serious shortcomings in the measures taken against terrorism. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the province most affected by terrorism, where the people have suffered heavy losses. But despite this, the PTI government failed to take decisive action against the terrorists. The reason for this is administrative incompetence as well as an unclear policy, which has exposed the province to further dangers. Along with this, the PTI’s decision to release terrorists from jails and rehabilitate them devastated the law and order situation in the country.
According to available information, TTP (officially called Khwarjis) have launched an aggressive extortion campaign in the Khyber district’s Bara Tehsil.  Reports indicate that affluent individuals from Aka Khel and Shalobar-Qambar Khel are receiving threatening calls from various militant groups using Afghan mobile numbers. This wave of extortion, ongoing for the past four months, has already forced dozens of business owners to pay hefty sums. The minimum demand stands at Rs. 1.5 million, and those who refused have faced grenade attacks on their hujras (guesthouses) and residences. So far, at least eight such attacks have occurred, though no casualties have been reported.
The affected region, spanning approximately 35 kilometers, is home to thousands of different Afridi tribespeople, with around 15% of the business community targeted. Upon receiving extortion calls, most victims quietly comply to avoid retaliation. Those who resist have seen their hujras come under attack, likely as warnings. Despite the growing threat, not a single victim has formally reported these incidents to law enforcement. The police have inspected attack sites and collected evidence, but no proactive measures have been taken.
Security analysts suggest that, for now, militants are not pursuing targeted killings of non-compliant individuals. Instead, their strategy appears focused on instilling fear and asserting control. This is evident from the fact that attacks have so far targeted unoccupied properties at night.
Police and security forces have a limited daytime presence in Bara but become completely inactive after sunset, effectively ceding control to terrorist groups. Eyewitnesses confirm that after dark, militants move freely in large parts of Khyber District. Compared to previous waves of terrorism, the local population is more fearful and reluctant to speak out. There is no visible effort to form peace committees or tribal militias (lashkars), which were once instrumental in countering terrorism.
Adding to the crisis, public confidence in security forces has eroded to the extent that victims prefer silence over seeking state protection. The economic downturn in Khyber, coupled with frequent border closures and trade restrictions with Afghanistan, has already crippled local businesses. Now, the added burden of extortion has left the region’s traders in a state of financial and psychological distress.
Despite the worsening situation, the PTI-led provincial government, other political parties, and religious leaders have remained passive spectators. No concrete measures have been taken to mobilize the public or confront the militants. Security institutions, too, lack a clear strategy to reassure citizens or counter the growing terrorist influence.
Meanwhile, targeted killings continue in Bara, further fueling fear and uncertainty. The deteriorating security situation demands immediate intervention, as the stability of Peshawar—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital—is directly linked to peace in Khyber District. Bara and Jamrud, which share borders with Peshawar, have long been sensitive areas. Any instability here threatens the security of the provincial capital, which serves as the administrative heart of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It is also important to note that instead of condemning any terrorist attack, PTI starts facilitating and interpreting it, as seen in the Jafar Express regarding terrorism. The PTI leadership has always been engaged in the politics of allegations and statements, but the performance of this party in the practical field has been zero. When the country needed a united leadership that would seriously consider matters of national security, the PTI, through its irresponsibility, made it clear that its only aim was to gain power.
Politicians who are doing politics on an important issue like terrorism are paving the way for the enemies of the country. The indifference and lack of seriousness on the part of the PTI on matters of national security is proof that this party is not only unfit for politics but has also become a major threat to the country’s interests at the behest of foreign powers.
