Islamabad – The war against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is not the legacy of a single government or political party.Rather, it is the result of nearly two decades of complex policy decisions, regional developments, military operations and inconsistent political narratives that have collectively shaped the province’s security landscape.Following the post 9/11 regional upheaval, Pakistan’s western border regions gradually turned into a conflict zone.Between 2002 and 2007, weak state writ in tribal areas, porous borders, and the spread of religious extremism created space for militant groups to organize, recruit and expand.The consequences of that period became fully visible in the years that followed, when violence spilled into settled districts of KP.
Military Operations,
A Question of State Survival
By 2008, militant groups had openly challenged the authority of the state in Swat, Buner, Dir and adjoining areas.This escalation left the state with little option but to launch large scale military operations.From the Swat operation to later actions in North Waziristan, Pakistan’s security forces dismantled organized militant networks, significantly reducing suicide bombings and high profile terrorist attacks across the country.These operations, however, came at a heavy cost.Millions were displaced, infrastructure was damaged, and local economies were severely disrupted.Yet, the restoration of state control over large swathes of territory marked a critical turning point in Pakistan’s internal security trajectory.
Gains Achieved, Questions Unanswered
The military campaign succeeded in breaking the operational capacity of major terrorist groups.Educational institutions reopened, markets revived and everyday life gradually returned to urban centers.Despite these gains, security experts argue that the ideological and social roots of extremism were not addressed with the same urgency as kinetic operations.Governance gaps, delayed police reforms, weak judicial outreach and limited economic opportunities in merged tribal districts undermined long term stabilization efforts.As a result, the foundations for sustainable peace remained fragile.
Conflicting Political Narratives
One of the most damaging aspects of Pakistan’s counterterrorism journey has been the lack of a consistent political narrative.At different points, negotiations were promoted as the preferred solution, while at other times military force was described as the only viable option.In some cases, militancy was framed primarily as an external conspiracy, diverting attention from internal policy failures.These contradictions weakened policy continuity and, according to analysts, provided militant groups with the space to regroup and exploit political ambiguity.The Present Challenge
The recent rise in attacks targeting security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa underscores the reality that militancy has not been fully eliminated.Analysts point to cross border dynamics, local facilitation networks and the absence of a clear, long term counterterrorism framework as key factors behind the renewed threat.The Way Forward Security experts widely agree that military operations alone cannot guarantee lasting
peace.Sustainable
Stability requires
A clear and unified national counterterrorism narrative
Firm action against ideological and financial enablers of extremism
Effective governance and economic development in former tribal areas
Strong coordination between civilian institutions and security agencies
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now stands at a critical juncture.Without learning from past missteps and addressing structural weaknesses, the hard-earned security gains of the last two decades risk being eroded, turning peace once again into a temporary and uncertain achievement.