Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced approximately 6,200 terrorism incidents over the past two years, resulting in 1,200 deaths. He emphasized that the issue at hand is terrorism rather than politics, urging a thorough examination of the security situation in the province.

According to Radio Pakistan, Asif highlighted that Afghan nationals were responsible for 37 suicide attacks during this period, with 14 occurring in the current year alone. The Defence Minister criticized the current state of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, noting that out of its 125,000 personnel, 13,000 are assigned to VIP protocol duties, while 17,000 positions remain unfilled.

Asif further detailed that the Counter-Terrorism Department in the merged districts is largely inactive, possessing only 17 bullet-proof vehicles and approximately 3,300 personnel, most of whom are on contractual terms. He disclosed that the police had requested 42 billion rupees for the reconstruction and fortification of police posts, but only 1.2 billion rupees were allocated by the provincial government. He alleged that the funds were misappropriated, despite claims of substantial spending.

The Defence Minister stated that the state’s policy focuses on eliminating terrorists through action and criticized any approach involving negotiations with terrorists. He raised concerns over the allocation and usage of funds by the provincial government, noting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received around 8.5 trillion rupees in federal support from 2010 to 2025, with significant amounts allocated for various initiatives, including the war against terrorism and support for internally displaced persons.

Asif pointed out that more than 3,000 terrorism-related cases are pending prosecution, with no executions or sentences carried out against terrorists to date. He outlined the state’s policy of “Hold, Build and Transfer,” aimed at securing, rebuilding, and eventually transferring control to civil administration. The Minister questioned the provincial administration’s and courts’ delays in assuming control of these areas.