Residents in sensitive areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face a stark choice between removing embedded militant groups or stepping aside as security forces press forward with intelligence-based operations. According to Geo News, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah warned on Tuesday of a risk of "collateral damage" during ongoing anti-terror operations if locals neither clear the way nor distance themselves from the threat.
Speaking on the Geo News programme "Naya Pakistan", Sanaullah stated that intelligence agencies possess precise locations and counts of terrorists operating in formations of three to 15 individuals. He alleged that 70% of such groups are currently present in sensitive areas, living directly among local populations.
"These terrorists are mixed in with the populations there or are living among them," Sanaullah said, as reported by Geo News. He added that while residents had been asked to remove them, those unwilling to do so should move aside to facilitate security operations, warning that otherwise, "there will be a risk of collateral damage."
On the political front, Sanaullah alleged that the now dysfunctional government of Sohail Afridi had previously discouraged cooperation with law enforcement. He maintained that the current administration, operating under governor's rule, is fully focused on eliminating terrorism within weeks or months, and stated that the government expects the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to cooperate in this fight. He also extended an open invitation to the opposition leader to visit the Prime Minister House for tea and talks, and spoke respectfully of TTAP chief Mahmood Achakzai.
Background
According to Geo News, President Asif Ali Zardari imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, sidelining the PTI-led provincial government amidst a deteriorating law and order situation. The presidential proclamation, approved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice, cited a surge in militant attacks targeting infrastructure, government installations, and law enforcement agencies, alongside accusations that the former provincial administration failed to curb the violence.
Why it matters
For ordinary citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the federal adviser's warning highlights the immense security challenges and the volatile realities of living in areas impacted by militancy. The unfolding transition under governor's rule and the intensification of intelligence-based operations directly affect public safety, community displacement risks, and the broader political stability of the province.