Peshawar, September 9, 2025: In a grave revelation, government officials have disclosed that more than 8,000 militants of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — declared “Fitna al-Khawarij” — are currently present across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), posing a serious security threat.
According to the officials, the terrorists infiltrated from Afghanistan through unfrequented routes along the porous border and are now active in Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Shangla, and several merged districts. Alarmingly, they have even set up checkpoints on key routes, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Road, DI Khan–Bannu Road, and in Tank, before blending into the local population to stage attacks against security forces.
A police report paints a grim picture of the worsening security landscape in KP. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, 605 terrorism incidents were reported, leaving 138 civilians martyred and 352 wounded. The province also lost 79 police personnel with another 130 injured in the line of duty.
August alone saw 129 terror incidents, killing 17 civilians and 13 policemen, and injuring nearly 100 more. Bannu bore the heaviest brunt with 42 attacks, followed by North and South Waziristan, and Dir.
Officials said at least 800 militants are concentrated in Bajaur and Khyber districts, where recent clashes led to the killing of 80 terrorists attempting to cross from Afghanistan.
The revelations have sparked alarm among tribal elders, who voiced strong concerns in jirgas chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Elders urged the provincial government to press Kabul to curb infiltration from Afghan soil, calling cross-border militancy a direct threat to peace in the region.
Acknowledging the challenge, KP government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif said terrorists often record propaganda videos on highways before escaping under the cover of night.
“If terrorists have courage, they should come in the morning instead of at night,” Saif remarked, reaffirming the government’s resolve to wipe out militancy through intelligence-based operations (IBOs).
Inspector General Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said law enforcement agencies were fully aware of militant movements and had intensified operations. In August alone, security forces killed 39 terrorists and arrested 110 others in 190 counter-terror actions across DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bajaur, Khyber, Bannu, and Dir.
“We have taken strict notice of Fitna al-Khawarij militants setting up illegal checkpoints,” the IGP said, adding that day-and-night patrols have now been launched along the CPEC Road in coordination with the Motorway Police.
Despite ongoing operations, officials admit the scale of infiltration and widespread militant presence has complicated security efforts. With thousands displaced by recurring violence and mounting casualties among civilians and security personnel, KP continues to bear the heaviest toll of Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.
