Terror Risk Grows as PTI Calls for Troop Withdrawal in KP

Peshawar – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) organizational committee has demanded the withdrawal of military forces deployed under Article 245 within 15 days. The demand comes at a time when terrorist activities are on the rise in the province, and the Pakistan Army is conducting over 190 intelligence-based operations daily and making sacrifices to ensure peace.

Security analysts and officials say this demand could provide space to terrorist elements and echoes the language used by hostile foreign proxies, including India and various extremist groups. Some are now accusing PTI of repeating the same narrative as anti-state actors.

The tragic incidents in areas like Tirah, Bannu, Kurram, and Parachinar are said to be the result of poor governance during PTI’s 12-year rule in KP. According to ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations), the military and law enforcement agencies have been giving their lives to protect the nation, often filling the security gap left by provincial authorities.

Critics argue that PTI’s policy in 2021 of negotiating with and allowing the return of militants created long-term security risks. The consequences of those policies are now being dealt with through military operations and sacrifices.

According to a 2022 report, KP’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) spends 96% of its budget on salaries and only 4% on actual operations. The force is under-equipped and poorly trained, despite having the largest number of CTD personnel in the country.

Experts believe that PTI’s recent demand is an attempt to divert public attention from internal failures, especially after their unsuccessful protest on August 5. Using national security issues for political point-scoring is seen as highly irresponsible by many observers.

A key question now arises: If the army is withdrawn from merged tribal areas, will terrorist groups reorganize? Such a scenario would align perfectly with the goals of hostile forces like India and their proxies.

The military is currently covering for a gap left by civil authorities. The demand for troop withdrawal directly contradicts PTI’s previous stance on national security and seems to serve only to distract from poor governance.

While maintaining law and order is a provincial responsibility, the military continues to operate in KP for the sake of national security. However, if the KP government insists on withdrawal, the army will comply—but all future responsibility for the security situation will lie with Chief Minister Gandapur and the PTI-led provincial government.