Despite the bleakness, there are calls for change. Civil society groups, activists, and some political leaders have urged the government to prioritise dialogue and development alongside counterterrorism efforts.

In the predawn hours on Tuesday, a terrorist attack shook the Frontier Corps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu. Nestled at the foothills under the jurisdiction of the Cantonment Police Station, the fort became the epicentre of a grim battle.

Armed with both heavy and small weapons, five terrorists launched a coordinated assault, determined to breach the fort’s defences. The ensuing confrontation claimed the life of one Frontier Corps (FC) soldier and left five others injured, while the attackers met a swift and decisive end at the hands of the security forces.

The assault began with a barrage of gunfire aimed at the fort, triggering an immediate and robust response from the stationed forces. In the initial clash, three of the assailants were eliminated. The remaining two attackers sought temporary refuge beneath an excavator near the fort until one was neutralised on the spot. The final attacker, in a desperate act, fled a short distance before detonating himself.

The dead and the injured were transported to a nearby hospital.

A Historical Context of Conflict

The resurgence of violence in north-western Pakistan evokes memories of the region’s tumultuous history, says Abubakar Siddique in his column for Radio Azadi. The area, a stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, has long been a theatre of deadly counterterrorism operations and US drone strikes. Terrorists, in turn, have inflicted suffering on the local population.

In his column, Abubakar Siddique recalls his conversation with Adil Dawar, a local activist, who recalls the airstrikes of 2007 in North Waziristan that claimed the lives of around 50 people, including his uncle and cousin. “That was the darkest era of terrorism,” he said. Yet, Dawar laments that the current situation is no better. “Today, the situation is as bad as the previous era of terrorism,” he remarked, reflecting the sentiments of many who feel trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of violence.

Siddique says that the resurgence of the TTP has brought a sharp uptick in violence. In 2024 alone, militant attacks in Pakistan increased by 70 per cent compared to the previous year, according to the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS). The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported 685 fatalities among security personnel in 2024, marking the deadliest year for Pakistan’s forces in nearly a decade. The TTP’s activities, alongside those of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Balochistan, have plunged Pakistan into deeper insecurity.

Besides, the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has also been a key factor in the terrorists’ resurgence. Weapons and military gear left behind by the US military have allegedly found their way into the hands of the TTP and Baloch militants, enhancing their fighting capabilities. This dynamic underscores the interconnected nature of regional instability and its far-reaching consequences.

A Crossroads for Pakistan

For ordinary Pakistanis, the consequences of this protracted conflict are devastating. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and millions displaced during military offensives aimed at uprooting militants. The Pashtun and Baloch ethnic minorities have borne the brunt of the violence and displacement, fuelling grievances that insurgent groups have exploited.

“People have lost their lives and properties both because of the militants and the security forces,” the Radio Azadi says quoting Attiqullah Dawar, a local lawyer and a former TTP captive. Dawar’s harrowing experience of being held for eight months and only released after his family paid a $40,000 ransom exemplifies the human toll of the ongoing conflict. Activists like Idress Mehsud, who advocate for the rights of marginalised communities, face constant threats and even persecution, often finding themselves labelled as threats to national security.

Pakistan’s reliance on military force to combat militancy has yielded mixed results. While the military claims to have killed a record number of militants in 2024, critics argue that this approach has failed to address the root causes of the conflict.

Observers like Afrasiab Khattak, a former lawmaker, highlight the need for a more inclusive approach. “The security state controls the entire state system,” he told Radio Azadi. “And the [army] is not listening.” A lack of dialogue and the marginalisation of ethnic minorities have only deepened mistrust and alienation, leaving communities feeling abandoned by the State.

Despite the bleakness, there are calls for change. Civil society groups, activists, and some political leaders have urged the government to prioritise dialogue and development alongside counterterrorism efforts. Addressing the grievances of the Pashtun and Baloch communities, investing in education and infrastructure, and fostering economic opportunities could help undermine support for militancy, they say.