By Khalid Khan
The Pashtuns’ greatest misfortune is their reluctance to engage in critical thinking. Whether in personal matters or decisions of national significance, Pashtuns neither reflect on past mistakes nor recognize and learn from them. This absence of introspection has been further compounded by their so-called intellectuals, thinkers, and writers, who have filled the community with myths of misleading honor, pride, and bravado. Consequently, Pashtuns wander, like inflated footballs, drifting from one place to another, only to be battered and broken at each turn. Ultimately, they have only themselves to blame, as they believe neither in unity as a nation nor in a deep-rooted connection to their land. The nomadic mindset and tribal divisions persist, and yet, Pashtun poets and singers continue to lament, “My greatest sin is that I am Pashtun.”
There is no denying that a large segment of the Pashtun population has fallen under the spell of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the extent that they have sacrificed their traditions, values, and positive traits for the sake of this political party. This emotional attachment has resulted in PTI’s unprecedented third consecutive government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Amidst deteriorating economic conditions, political instability, and administrative failures, the province’s law and order situation has deteriorated. Crime rates have surged, and attacks on security personnel have become a daily occurrence. The southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially North and South Waziristan, are engulfed in a severe wave of terrorism. This resurgence in violence, which specifically targets security agencies, reflects the influence of foreign policies aimed at destabilizing the region. These external forces could not succeed without local facilitators within Pakistan, though it is important to note that such traitorous activities have never received any formal endorsement from the state or government.
In the current wave of terrorism, it appears as if the provincial government is either absent or indifferent to the worsening security situation. Over the past ten months, the highest number of attacks on security personnel has taken place in Dera Ismail Khan, the home district of Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur. In the D.I. Khan Division alone, 87 attacks were reported, followed by 72 in the Bannu Division, 27 in the Malakand Division, and 24 in the Peshawar Division. These 220 brutal assaults have resulted in the martyrdom of 130 security personnel, including officers, with another 154 injured. According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department, from January to October 2024, a total of 429 individuals were killed and 789 injured. The number of martyrs in the D.I. Khan Division alone reached 74, while Bannu Division and North Waziristan recorded 72 and 64, respectively.
This deadly wave of violence has most affected Dera Ismail Khan, North and South Waziristan, and Bannu Division, although other districts in the province have also suffered significant human and material losses. Among those martyred in this bloody conflict, 134 were police personnel, while 326 were injured; 115 civilians were killed, and 209 were injured. In Peshawar Division alone, 12 police personnel were martyred, and 16 were injured. During these ten months, security forces conducted robust counter-terrorism operations, resulting in the death of 588 militants, with over 200 others injured. However, independent sources indicate that the actual casualties among security personnel and civilians may be higher than official statistics suggest.
Though Pakistan holds immense strategic importance in the region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with its unique geopolitical position, is the backbone of this significance—particularly the southern districts. These districts connect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Balochistan, Punjab, and even Sindh. They also form a strategic corridor to Afghanistan, the merged tribal areas, and the historic settlements in the Pothohar region of Punjab. This northern corridor also links to the Wakhan Corridor, historically inhabited by Pashtuns. The historical significance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rightly justifies its position as a gateway to Central Asia. Moreover, this part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rich in natural resources, holds a key to a stable and prosperous Pakistan. Despite its importance, the area has been left at the mercy of ruthless terrorists, seemingly abandoned by the provincial government and, disturbingly, even encouraged through recent actions.
In recent years, thousands of militants have found a home in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These settlements were facilitated by the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, allegedly following instructions from the party’s former leader, Imran Khan. This wave of militant settlement can be traced back to previous PTI leaders, such as former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who repeatedly invited militants to establish offices in Peshawar. The subsequent PTI government under Chief Minister Mahmood Khan continued these policies, and now the current Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, appears to further escalate this by neglecting security concerns.
While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa burns in the flames of terrorism, the Chief Minister issues daily threats to the state, broadcasts calls to march on Islamabad, and establishes protest camps in Swabi, as if provoking chaos is the only goal. Through these actions, he risks damaging interprovincial harmony, national unity, and the cohesion of the state itself, all while allegedly threatening to set the country ablaze to free a convicted individual.
On one hand, the provincial government has turned the province into a virtual jungle, leaving innocent civilians and peace-seeking security personnel vulnerable to ruthless attackers. On the other hand, our courageous defenders stand resolute, targeting these merciless assailants with precision. The PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, must reconsider this confrontational approach, abandon divisive politics, and fully commit to the ongoing fight against terrorism—before the flames consume everything.