KHYBER: Security forces in Landi Kotal have imposed a ban on locals to visit certain high risk areas due to the recent surge in acts of terrorism and incidents of kidnapping for ransom in different parts of the country.

An official notice, specially addressed to the residents of Sultankhel, Nekikhel and Walikhel, has warned people against venturing into troubled or risky localities of Nangrosa in Walikhel, Shpela, Eesar and Laka Sar (top) on Sultankhel side and Tanga Nala and Shakeri hills in Nekikhel.

It said that all types of movement of locals including visit to tourist spots in those hilly areas and personal or business activities were strictly banned till further order.

“All residents shall ensure strict implementation of these orders with responsibility of any monetary and personal loss would rest with those affected by any untoward incident in the mentioned high risk localities,” the notice concluded.

Instructions issued owing to surge in acts of terrorism

Sources told this scribe that a sudden and rapid surge in movement of militants was witnessed in different parts of Landi Kotal tehsil in recent weeks with some groups of them establishing night checkposts on some link roads and carrying out snap checking of locals.

They said that groups of heavily armed men were seen in Mukhtiarkhel, Ashkhel, Sultankhel, Kam Shalman, Laka Sar and parts of Malagori in Jamrud tehsil, bordering Shalman areas of Landi Kotal.

Local sources insisted that majority of militants had in recent weeks infiltrated into Landi Kotal from Afghanistan while using unfrequented routes along the Kabul River in Kam Shalman and temporarily staying in Kabalu Maina area of Mukhtiarkhel before scaling the high altitude Laka Sar via the Angor Bagh hilltop in Mukhtiarkhel area. The Laka Sar, where a dilapidated British-era rest house is still situated, overlooks the entire Jamrud tehsil and most parts of Peshawar.

They said that they witnessed intense movement of armed groups with most of them riding motorcycles and conducting nighttime patrolling of roads connecting Ashkhel, Mukhtiarkhel, Peerokhel and Kam Shalman.

Official sources, while requesting anonymity due to sensitivity of the issue, refuted local sources information and instead insisted that majority of those militants had come from Tirah after the eviction of thousands of families from the troubled spots of the valley in December last year.

They said that militants had first arrived in Walikhel area via the Nangrosa hilly terrain and then moved to Laka Sar via Mazreena, Kam Shalman and Malagori.

Official sources said that the route was used by militants to first reach Peshawar Valley and then spread their tentacles to other parts of the province in order to carry out subversive activities.

They said that some members of those militant groups were also involved in the recent kidnapping for ransom cases of at least two local traders, Haji Zareef alias Landai Haji and Haji Waseem.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026