Peshawar: Government officials have revealed that more than 8,000 Khawarij militants are present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking shelter within civilian populations and carrying out attacks on security forces.
According to the officials, these militants infiltrated Pakistan from Afghanistan through unfrequented routes and are spread across Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Shangla, and the merged districts.
In Bajaur and Khyber alone, over 800 militants have been reported. Officials added that these groups have even set up illegal checkpoints on routes such as the CPEC road, Tank, and D.I. Khan–Bannu highways.
Their presence among civilians has created difficulties for security forces in responding effectively, often leading to casualties.
Officials further stated that during jirgas chaired by the Chief Minister, tribal elders expressed strong resentment over militant infiltration from Afghanistan and urged the provincial leadership to raise the matter with the Afghan government.
In recent weeks, security forces killed 80 infiltrating militants in North Waziristan and Bajaur.
Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Zulfiqar Hameed, told Geo News that the presence and activities of Khawarij militants are well known, adding that many have been killed in D.I. Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bajaur, Waziristan, Khyber, Bannu, and Dir.
He noted that during the past month, 190 operations were conducted, resulting in the killing of 39 militants and the arrest of 110.
The IG confirmed that strict action has been taken against militants setting up checkpoints, with day-and-night patrols launched on CPEC routes in coordination with motorway police.
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Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Saif stated that the militants are infiltrating from Afghanistan, but the government and law enforcement agencies are determined to confront them with full force.
