Counter-Terrorism Department Confirms Surge in Militancy Across Northwestern Pakistan
Peshawar, May 18 – Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has reported 284 terrorist incidents in the first five months of 2025, underscoring a continued surge in militant activity, according to a report released by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday.The restive northwestern province, long a hotspot for insurgent violence, remains one of the most affected regions in the country.
North Waziristan Tops the Districts with the Most Incidents
Of the total 284 attacks, North Waziristan accounted for the highest number with 53 incidents. It was followed by Bannu with 35, Dera Ismail Khan with 31, Peshawar with 13, and Kurram district with 8 incidents.The report revealed that 148 terrorists have been killed across the province so far this year. Dera Ismail Khan, the home district of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, recorded the most militant deaths at 67.
Over 1,100 Suspects Named, Few Arrested
A total of 1,116 individuals have been named in terrorism-related cases throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year. However, only 95 arrests have been made to date, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating militant networks.Year-on-Year Rise in Terror Incidents
In 2024, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed 732 attacks, a significant increase from 651 in 2023. This marked the highest number of attacks since the peak insurgency years of 2009 and 2010.The law and order situation has notably deteriorated since mid-2021, with militant strikes becoming more frequent and deadly since 2023.
Police, Politicians, and Religious Leaders Targeted
The province has seen a growing trend of high-profile attacks in recent years. In one of the most devastating incidents, a suicide bomber targeted the central mosque within the police headquarters in Peshawar in January 2023. The attack killed over 86 police personnel and injured more than 200 others, making it the deadliest assault on the police force in the region.Besides security personnel, religious scholars, politicians, and other prominent figures have increasingly come under attack across the province, reflecting the expanding scope of the militant threat.