In a recent revelation, government officials have disclosed that more than 8,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, declared as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” are currently present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to officials, these militants infiltrated Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan through unfrequented routes along the porous border and are now active in Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Shangla, and the merged tribal districts.
The militants have reportedly set up checkpoints on major roads, including the CPEC route, DI Khan-Bannu Road, and in Tank, often blending into the civilian population before carrying out attacks against security forces. This alarming situation comes as KP — already at the frontline of militancy alongside Balochistan — has been rocked by a surge in violence.
Terror Incidents on the Rise
A police report revealed that more than 600 terrorism incidents have taken place in KP during the first eight months of 2025 alone.
605 terror incidents were recorded till August, resulting in the martyrdom of 138 civilians and injuries to 352 others.
The police also lost 79 personnel in the line of duty, while 130 were injured. In August alone, KP suffered 129 terror attacks that killed 17 civilians and 13 police officials, leaving nearly 100 others injured.
Meanwhile, security forces named 351 suspects in terrorism-related cases during the month. 32 militants were neutralized in encounters, and five were arrested.
Bannu witnessed the highest number of attacks (42), followed by North Waziristan (15), South Waziristan (14), and Dir (11).
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Security Forces Under Pressure
Officials admitted that security forces face serious challenges in countering these assaults, often sustaining casualties due to the militants’ guerilla-style tactics.
During jirgas chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, tribal elders expressed frustration over the infiltration of militants from Afghanistan and demanded that the provincial government raise the matter with Kabul.
Security sources estimate that around 800 terrorists are stationed in Bajaur and Khyber districts alone. Recently, 80 militants were killed while attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into Bajaur and North Waziristan.
Strong Response but Persistent Threats
Provincial government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif condemned the terrorists’ tactics of recording videos on highways before vanishing.
“If they have courage, they should appear in daylight rather than hiding in the dark,” he challenged.
Saif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to wiping out terrorism and highlighted ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs).
Recently, 39 terrorists were killed in 190 operations in August, while 110 were arrested. IGP Police, KPK, assured that round-the-clock patrols have been launched on the CPEC Road in collaboration with the Motorway Police to curb militant activities.
Read More: Terrorism in Afghanistan: Rising Jihadist Threats and Human Atrocities
What Comes Next?
If infiltration from Afghanistan continues unchecked, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) may face a dangerous escalation in violence, with militant attacks becoming more frequent and more deadly.
Highways and economic corridors, particularly the CPEC route, will likely remain primary targets as they symbolize both state authority and strategic economic ambitions. Security installations, police stations, and military convoys could increasingly come under attack, as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) seeks to undermine the morale of security forces and demonstrate operational reach.
In rural and semi-urban districts, especially those with limited state presence, militants could gradually re-establish influence through intimidation, parallel justice systems, and shadow governance structures. This would create conditions reminiscent of the pre-2014 era, when TTP exercised significant control in Swat, Waziristan, and adjoining tribal areas.
The resurgence of such a militant ecosystem would not only heighten the human cost of conflict but also reverse hard-earned counterterrorism gains, plunging the region back into a cycle of insurgency and instability.
If Kabul fails to take decisive action against TTP sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil, Pakistan–Afghanistan relations may enter a period of serious strain, potentially undoing whatever fragile cooperation exists between the two neighbors. Islamabad has long accused the Afghan Taliban of providing tacit safe havens to TTP militants, enabling them to regroup, train, and launch cross-border attacks into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Read More: Terrorism’s Second Wind in Pakistan
Continued inaction from Kabul would likely fuel Pakistan’s frustration, pushing Islamabad to intensify diplomatic pressure through regional forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) or direct bilateral negotiations.
However, if these efforts fail to yield results, Pakistan might resort to harsher measures, including increased border fencing, restrictions on Afghan trade routes, and more aggressive military strikes across the Durand Line.
Such actions would heighten tensions with the Taliban regime, which already resists Pakistani claims of cross-border responsibility, and could escalate into armed skirmishes along volatile frontier districts such as Bajaur, North Waziristan, and Khyber.
The spillover effects of such a confrontation could destabilize the broader region, disrupt trade flows, and embolden other militant factions who thrive in conditions of political hostility and weak border control.
Ultimately, failure to curb TTP sanctuaries risks not only bilateral hostility but also the possibility of a wider regional security crisis that could drag in external actors with vested interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s stability.
*The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of TDI.
Usman Anwar
Usman Anwar is a prospective M.Phil. scholar in Politics and International Relations. His research interests include security studies, maritime affairs, comparative politics, human rights, and climate change. His academic portfolio includes 7 published articles in reputable journals (Category Q-2 and Y) and a book review (Category Q-3). He can be reached at usmananwar2023@gmail.com
