Stories by Ismail Khan

Ismail Khan is Dawn’s Editor (North), based in Peshawar. With 35 years of reporting experience, he covers politics and security issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan. He was part of the NYT reporting team that received the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the region.

PTI offers olive branch, insists demands are ‘genuine’

• KP Chief Minister Afridi says party has not refused to engage in dialogue, warns against ‘misadventure’ • Asks Centre to

Published 27 Sep, 2026 07:24am

Situationer: Déjà vu at D-Chowk?

KHYBER Pakhtunkhwa is on edge again, and not just for the deteriorating security and volatility in the south, which...

Updated 25 Sep, 2026 07:58am

Pakistan, Afghanistan officials hold meeting in China’s Urumqi under trilateral mechanism

Discussion focused on confidence-building measures and the lowering of tensions, say sources.

Updated 01 Apr, 2026 10:57pm

Afghan Taliban aware of demands, must take ‘verifiable’ steps

• Senior security official says 226 posts destroyed in neighbouring country, 36 positions captured • Brigade headquarters in...

Published 06 Mar, 2026 07:04am

The Afghan gauntlet

A combination of factors — including India’s growing influence and Ghani’s courting of pan-Pakhtun nationalism and larger strategic goals — led Islamabad to continue backing the Taliban.

Updated 28 Feb, 2026 09:02am

44 Afghan Taliban operatives killed, 2 Pakistan security personnel martyred during ongoing border clashes: Attaullah Tarar

"Taliban regime forces are being delivered punishment in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors”, says information ministry.

Updated 27 Feb, 2026 01:25am

IS-Khorasan a ‘bigger threat’, ‘more entrenched’ than TTP

Investigators say terrorist cell that carried out Islamabad Imambargah attack included "fully radicalised" women.

Updated 26 Feb, 2026 07:36am

Tirah: buried under snow and circumstance

The plan for state intervention in the valley was fully mapped out in the summer of 2025. Fresh off the heels of a successful operation in Bajaur, the authorities were optimistic. But they hadn’t reckoned with the weather ... or Sohail Afridi.

Updated 29 Jan, 2026 05:03pm

How Faiz’s hubris came undone with failure of TTP ‘resettlement project’

Whether the pursuit of peace with the TTP was his own brainchild or an assignment given to him by his then-boss Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, it’s hard to tell.

Updated 12 Dec, 2025 09:39pm

‘One eye on the barrel, the other on the sky’: How police in Bannu are dealing with evolving militant tactics

After the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving behind military equipment, not only did militants’ attacks increase manifold, but the lethality of their attacks also spiked.

Updated 01 Dec, 2025 10:32am

Situationer: ‘One eye on the barrel, the other on the sky’

After losing the technological advantage to militants armed with US-made weaponry and drones, the security apparatus has spent

Published 26 Nov, 2025 07:21am

3 FC men martyred in suicide attack on force’s headquarters in Peshawar

"One terrorist blew himself up at the gate, while two others tried to enter the premises but were gunned down by FC personnel,” says Peshawar CCPO.

Updated 25 Nov, 2025 07:09am

Peshawar CTD official dead, 2 injured as explosives detonate at police station

Police say incident occurred due to detonation of stored explosive material; CM Afridi seeks report from IG; Kundi attends cop's funeral prayers.

Updated 02 Nov, 2025 03:39pm

How Gandapur got his grievances off his chest

It was no secret that Aleema Khan never had any liking for the KP chief minister.

Updated 02 Oct, 2025 07:55am

The ‘perfect storm’ behind River Swat tragedy

Rescue 1122 response faced nearly 40-minute delay; district emergency officer was AWOL, man recruited as diver was "afraid of water".

Updated 14 Jul, 2025 08:05am

Situationer: Ali Amin Gandapur’s foibles on the political tightrope

Party’s internal misgivings with KP CM stem from Nov 26 events, his inability to win reprieve for incarcerated Imran Khan.

Updated 10 Feb, 2025 08:07am

Limbo for Afghans awaiting refuge in third countries

UNHCR-led global resettlement process will also be hit by Trump’s suspension of refugee programme.

Updated 25 Jan, 2025 08:34am

Analysis: Can Pakistan stem the tide of terror resurgence?

"Own losses" far outstrip dent IBOs, kinetic actions put in militants’ operational ability; need to revisit existing anti-terror strategies.

Updated 02 Jan, 2025 07:27pm

‘Imran agreed to divert march but Bushra vetoed the idea’

Ministers accuse ex-PM's wife of “hijacking” PTI’s decision-making; post on Imran's X account seemingly backs Bushra's stance.

Updated 27 Nov, 2024 10:57am

KP govt bars officials, warns public against associating with PTM’s Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga

Section 144 imposed in Khyber for 30 days; Amnesty calls on govt to revoke ban; Barrister Saif questions silence of federal officials on issue.

Updated 09 Oct, 2024 12:42am