PESHAWAR: Police and other forces are facing a tougher challenge to maintain law and order in southern districts and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a surge in attacks in recent weeks.
Some minor attacks in Peshawar as well as a couple of videos showing the presence of armed militants in areas of Khyber tribal district bordering the provincial capital and in Mardan district have raised alarm as well.
Police officials, however, said the areas remained under control and the armed men fled within minutes after recording the videos.Search operations are continuing in these areas. Similar videos had earlier surfaced showing armed men in southern districts.
Police and other forces continue to face frequent attacks in some districts, particularly in towns of Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions. A number of police and security personnel have lost lives in these attacks that have increased since 2021.
Police personnel in Lakki Marwat staged protests over the weekend over poor working conditions as they continue to face frequent attacks.The protest followed a recent bomb attack in Lakki Marwat in which seven policemen, including a station house officer, were martyred. The protesting cops also blocked roads.
This is the second time in one and a half years that police in Bannu division have staged a protest as in late 2024 they held a sit-in for several days. A protest march was also held in Peshawar after the major attack on the Police Lines in January 2023.
Over the past few years, dozens of policemen and security personnel have been martyred in attacks across various districts of KP, including several officers.At least 536 attacks were carried out on police in KP last year, in which 159 policemen were martyred. Hundreds of other attacks were foiled.
The number of casualties has remained consistently high in recent years. As many as 186 policemen were martyred in 2023, 156 in 2024, and 159 in 2025. Several officers and jawans have also been martyred during the first quarter of the current year. Attacks have further increased during the holy month of Ramazan.
Officials say police are continuing operations against militants, with several terrorists being killed during actions. An official said six terrorists were killed in Lachi, Kohat, on Sunday, while scores have been killed in other districts in recent months.
According to officials, police personnel have been provided bulletproof jackets, vehicles and jammers in recent months to enhance their protection and enable them to take more aggressive action against militants.
Police stations and checkposts have also been strengthened with improved technology, additional manpower and other facilities.However, officials say the force still requires more manpower, advanced technology and additional bulletproof vehicles and jackets, particularly in troubled areas.
Even in Peshawar, bulletproof vehicles are required for SPs, DSPs and patrolling staff in Hassankhel, Matani, Badaber, Sarband, Regi, Nasir Bagh and Mathra. Also, the cops need to be given extra incentives for performing duty in tougher conditions compared to other parts of the province and country.
An official said the provincial police took up the issue with the provincial and federal government to provide extra incentives to the cops working in volatile districts and police stations.The authorities also demanded hard area status for the province or at least the areas that are facing tougher challenges than other provinces.
Faced with the toughest challenge of terrorism for over two decades, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in January asked the government to approve funds for special militancy allowance to the policemen of the province.
The police force asked for approval of Rs4,243 million monthly for special militancy allowance to all the ranks and cadres of the force. The officials said many districts of the province are witnessing the worst law and order with frequent attacks on police and security forces for the last many years. They said the situation in KP is worse than the areas that have been given hard area status by the government.
“In view of the severe militancy and security challenges faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government has placed the enhancement of police capacity and their welfare among its top priorities,” said a letter by the deputy inspector general Finance to the government in January.
The letter added that due to the government’s focused efforts and effective administrative measures, not only has the law and order situation improved, but the government’s overall public image has also strengthened.
“In this context, special financial incentives such as the militancy allowance are being provided to police personnel, keeping in view the grave risks, operational responsibilities, and constant exposure to threats,” stated the letter by the Central Police Office.
It continued that these measures are intended to boost the morale of the force and enable them to discharge their duties with greater confidence.“Due to their role on the front lines, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have continuously confronted terrorists and insurgents, often at great personal risk. The KP Police have made countless sacrifices, including the loss of precious lives and serious injuries,” the letter stated.
The document highlighted that the duties in the province remain extremely hazardous, involving threats such as bomb blasts, targeted attacks, and other violent activities carried out by extremist elements.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is currently performing its duties without any additional financial incentives despite the challenging security environment and the operational nature of their assignments. In view of the continuous high-risk duties performed by all cadres of the KP Police, it is proposed that a special allowance equivalent to one running basic salary may be granted to all ranks across the force,” it recommended.
The KP Police has faced a far bigger challenge in terms of terrorism for the last over two decades. But different federal and provincial governments hardly paid any heed to many of the genuine demands of the force, including the hard area status, protected vehicles and special incentives for the cops for more effectively going after the terrorists and criminals.
