CTD urges govt to equip force with advanced technology
Haqnawaz shinwari
PESHAWAR
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has released its annual report for 2025, warning of an alarming surge in terrorist attacks targeting the police force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report terms the increase as “extraordinary and dangerous,” highlighting the mounting security challenges faced by the province.
According to CTD data, 510 attacks on police were recorded in 2025, up from 327 in 2024, marking a significant escalation.
The report notes that extremist groups this year targeted not only police personnel but also sensitive institutions, checkpoints, patrol teams and armored vehicles. The situation was particularly volatile in border districts, where militant activities intensified, while in some areas attacks were carried out through organized networks.
The CTD stated that it conducted extensive operations throughout the year, arresting 25 high-value terrorists with officially declared head money.
Those apprehended include wanted commanders, key saboteurs and facilitators linked to multiple militant outfits operating across the province.
Officials said these arrests helped dismantle several major networks involved in drug trafficking, extortion, targeted killings and cross-border terrorism.
The report attributes the resurgence of terrorism to several factors, including the infiltration of organized militant groups from across the border, the presence of local facilitators, weak border management and challenges to state writ in remote regions.
Security sources say the sharp rise in attacks on the police indicates that extremist organizations are attempting to reorganize and expand their operations, underscoring the urgent need for strengthened intelligence gathering, improved border control and coordinated province-wide operations.
The CTD has urged the provincial government to provide advanced technical equipment to the force.
It has also recommended modern and more specialized training for law enforcement personnel.
The department further called for tougher measures against terror financing networks.
Additionally, the CTD stressed the need for coordinated, large-scale operations in border areas to contain and counter the new wave of militancy.
