SEVERAL acts of terrorist violence over the past couple of days illustrate the grave threat militant groups continue to pose to the country, particularly KP and Balochistan. On Wednesday, an assistant commissioner was killed along with four others in KP’s Bajaur district when an IED struck his official vehicle. Both the banned TTP and IS-K have claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile on Tuesday, a teenage boy lost his life when militants stormed government buildings in Mastung, Balochistan. Several offices and banks were set ablaze. While no group has claimed responsibility, the Balochistan government has said “Fitna-i-Hindustan terrorists” carried out the raids. Such attacks are usually the hallmark of Baloch separatist groups. Both incidents point to the key subgroups threatening Pakistan’s security: religiously inspired groups and ethnic separatist outfits.

Data from the second quarter of 2025, which has just concluded, does not paint a reassuring picture on the counterterrorism front. According to the CRSS think tank, in Q2 of the current year, there were 615 fatalities in violent incidents; 282 of these included security personnel and civilians. While the number of deaths may have come down from Q1, the figures remain unacceptably high. Moreover, the data confirms that KP and Balochistan are the worst hit by terrorism. To counter this wave of terrorism, strong coordination is required between the centre, provincial governments and security agencies. Sadly, the civilian quarters seem too preoccupied with politicking, especially with regard to KP, while the Balochistan government is unable to provide foolproof security to the province’s people. The writ of the state is being challenged by murderous outfits, yet the administration has largely responded to the threat with rhetoric. Without a strong CT plan, overseen by the centre with active input from the provinces, preventing more atrocities will be difficult. Meanwhile, political wrangling can wait; the priority for all should be to save lives.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025