DND News Report:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is facing a growing convergence of security, governance and illicit-economy challenges, with terrorism, narcotics trafficking and smuggling emerging as interconnected problems while the provincial government’s institutional response, particularly in policing and counterterrorism, remains a matter of concern. National security agencies call this situation as a nexus of politicians, criminals and terrorists. The situation has also raised questions over the priorities of the provincial government headed by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, particularly as terrorism continues to intensify across the province.
Questions over the chief minister’s handling of the worsening security situation became particularly prominent following the horrific attack on the Kohat Police Lines Mosque. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi did not attend the funeral of the martyred victims of the attack and met the local media for the first time three days after the incident that shows how much indifferent and insensitive response he has towards terrorism in his province. During that press conference, the chief minister’s major concern was reportedly the Islamabad March rather than presenting a detailed plan to address the rapidly deteriorating security situation in KP.
“Narcotics trafficking is also accompanied by broader smuggling activity, with KP increasingly being described in the supplied material as a major route and operating environment for illicit trade”
The continuing rise in terrorism in KP has implications beyond the province because the province remains a major frontline in Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
According to figures cited in media reports, police deaths increased from 63 during the first half of 2025 to 122 during the corresponding period of 2026, representing an increase of 93.7 percent. Police injuries also increased from 84 to 175, a rise of 108.3 percent. Terrorist attacks in KP similarly increased from 508 between January and September 2025 to 680 during the same period of 2026, representing a 33.9 percent increase.
Figures from the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) also indicate a continuing upward trend in terrorist attacks in the province, with 174 attacks recorded in 2023, 295 in 2024 and 413 in 2025. The trend, according to the assessment presented in the supplied material, means that the provincial government could not reasonably have regarded the deteriorating security situation as unexpected when it assumed office. Instead, the continuing increase in terrorism should have made institutional preparedness and strengthening of counterterrorism capabilities an immediate priority.
“KP has become hub of illicit economic activity, with consequences extending beyond the provincial boundaries to Pakistan’s wider security and national economy while the CM Afridi says on record that his only concern is the release of his jailed leader”
The assault on the Kohat has further intensified questions about the preparedness of KP’s police and counterterrorism institutions. The assault reportedly continued for approximately 20 hours, raising questions about the ability of the police force to respond effectively to prolonged and complex terrorist attacks.
Deficiencies in CTD equipment had already been highlighted in December 2025 in several reports published as special reports on the province’s law-and-order situation at the end of the year.
The provincial government subsequently approved substantial funding to strengthen the CTD. This included Rs7.77 billion for CTD equipment as well as the revival of a previously frozen Rs4.30 billion project for the construction of CTD offices in 21 districts. However, the funding announcements did not translate quickly enough into operational preparedness, according to the concerns raised in the material.
The sanctioned strength of the CTD is 3,844 personnel, while only 3,113 are currently working, leaving a shortfall of approximately 19 percent. The shortage is also visible in specialised equipment and vehicles. KP has only 17 bulletproof vehicles, compared with 76 in Punjab and 42 in Balochistan. Despite this disparity, the provincial government has not purchased the required number of bulletproof vehicles, with the reasons remaining unclear.
Media reports have further indicated that only nine M4 rifles are available against a requirement of 200, while the province has 11 night-vision devices against a requirement of 35.
Reports also claimed that the recruitment of 638 CTD field operators remained incomplete as of June 2026. These deficiencies have become particularly significant in the context of the province’s rising terrorist violence, where police and CTD personnel are increasingly required to conduct operations against heavily armed militants.
Against this backdrop, questions have also been raised over the provincial government’s approach to police administration.
Instead of concentrating exclusively on strengthening the morale and operational capabilities of the police force, the government under Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has sought greater control over the police structure, according to the criticism contained in the supplied material.
The issue centres on senior police appointments and postings and whether such decisions should remain within the professional domain of the Inspector General of Police or be subject to political approval. In February 2026, the provincial government defended political approval powers concerning senior police postings. The issue resurfaced on September 23, 2026, when the provincial cabinet approved a draft proposing changes that would shift senior posting powers and leadership of the Police Policy Board towards the office of the chief minister.
Critics argue that such centralisation of authority could affect the operational autonomy of the police at a time when the force is already facing serious manpower, equipment and security challenges.
Terrorism is not the only challenge confronting KP. The province has also witnessed substantial narcotics activity, with the government’s own enforcement figures indicating extensive drug distribution. The figures cited include seizures involving hashish, methamphetamine, heroin and opium.
During January-March 2026, authorities registered 7,771 narcotics cases and made 7,751 arrests. During the same period, law-enforcement authorities recovered 5,695 kilograms of hashish, 847 kilograms of methamphetamine and 210 kilograms of heroin.
The scale of these seizures raises a broader question: whether enforcement agencies are moving beyond arrests and seizures to identify the organisers, financiers and wider networks responsible for narcotics trafficking.
Particularly significant were seizures reported in September 2026, including a 960-kilogram drug consignment intercepted in Peshawar. The consignment reportedly consisted of 720 kilograms of hashish and 240 kilograms of opium. The seizure was described as the largest single recovery by the Excise Intelligence Bureau. The scale of the seizures indicates that narcotics trafficking in the province extends beyond isolated individual cases and potentially involves organised distribution networks.
Narcotics trafficking is also accompanied by broader smuggling activity, with KP increasingly being described in the supplied material as a major route and operating environment for illicit trade. National estimates of tax losses attributed to smuggling put the annual loss at approximately Rs751 billion. These estimates include around Rs300 billion from tobacco, Rs270 billion from petroleum, Rs106 billion from tyres and lubricants, Rs60-65 billion from pharmaceuticals and Rs10 billion from tea. These figures are national estimates and therefore do not represent losses specifically incurred in KP. However, the material identifies KP as a major land route and operational area for smugglers, making the province an important part of the wider illicit economy.
Numerous Customs seizures have also been reported across the province.
In December 2025, Customs reportedly recorded approximately Rs197 million in seizures over a period of 10 days, including 19 non-duty-paid vehicles.
In January 2026, one Peshawar Customs case was valued at approximately Rs79.5 million, while seizures during another week reportedly reached Rs101.91 million.
Three operations conducted between January 21 and January 21, 2026, reportedly resulted in cases worth Rs170 million.
The repeated seizures and their monetary value indicate, according to the assessment in the supplied material, the presence of established commercial networks rather than isolated acts by individual smugglers.
The illicit economy in KP also extends to the timber sector. Between May 1 and May 19, 2026, authorities reportedly conducted 233 operations, recovering 6,770 cubic feet of timber and 73,105 kilograms of fuel wood. The operations also involved the seizure or use of action against 59 vehicles and 31 illegal saw machines. The issue became particularly serious in Mahodand Valley, where two forest guards were subsequently suspended by the Chief Secretary and an inquiry was ordered over alleged illegal logging and timber smuggling.
The timber cases add another layer to the province’s wider governance and enforcement challenges, alongside terrorism, narcotics trafficking and commercial smuggling.
Taken together, the figures and incidents cited in the material portray a province facing simultaneous pressure from terrorism and multiple forms of illicit economic activity.
The central concern is therefore not limited to individual seizures, terrorist attacks or isolated administrative failures. Rather, the developments point towards a broader challenge involving institutional preparedness, policing capacity, counterterrorism resources, narcotics enforcement, Customs operations, forest protection and the ability of the provincial government to prevent illicit networks from becoming entrenched.
With terrorist attacks and police casualties rising, CTD facing manpower and equipment shortages, narcotics seizures reaching hundreds and thousands of kilograms, Customs repeatedly intercepting high-value consignments and authorities continuing to confront illegal timber operations, the effectiveness of governance and enforcement mechanisms in KP has come under increasing scrutiny.
The combination of these trends has led to the characterisation of KP in the supplied assessment as a hub of illicit economic activity, with consequences extending beyond the provincial boundaries to Pakistan’s wider security and national economy while the Chief Minister Sohail Afridi says on record that his only concern is the release of his jailed leader and founding chairman of his party who has been convicted in corruption cases. Can such insensitive CM bring some positive change in crumbling governance of KP?
