Amid a sharp surge in terrorism across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) provincial leadership has demanded military withdrawal under Article 245 within 15 days. This demand, issued by PTI KP’s organizational committee, comes at a time when the Pakistan Army is conducting over 190 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) daily to neutralize growing threats. The timing of the statement has triggered widespread concern in political and security circles.
PTI claims that the continued presence of troops is unnecessary. However, law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in combatting threats across Thira, Bannu, Kurram, and Parachinar. Security sources have repeatedly emphasized that the army’s deployment is a response to the vacuum created by poor governance and a weak provincial counter-terrorism apparatus.
Governance Failures and National Security
A 2022 report paints a grim picture of KP’s security readiness. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) spends 96% of its budget on salaries and only 4% on actual operations. Training, equipment, and infrastructure remain severely inadequate. Despite having the largest CTD force in Pakistan, KP’s officers are under-equipped and often poorly trained.
Critics argue that PTI’s demand distracts from its 12-year governance failures in KP. Notably, the party’s decision in 2021 to allow the return and rehabilitation of former militants has created deep security loopholes. These gaps, security analysts say, are now being filled by the army through daily operations and sacrifices.
Furthermore, observers highlight that PTI’s narrative is dangerously close to that of hostile foreign elements. Groups like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and other proxies have also called for troop removal—raising questions about whose interests these demands serve.
The Cost of Political Optics
The federal government has not officially responded to PTI’s ultimatum. However, experts warn that any hasty military withdrawal could embolden terrorist elements and destabilize not just KP, but the entire country. India’s growing interest in unrest in KP, along with its history of proxy support, adds another layer of concern.
At this critical juncture, the military’s role is not political—it is filling a security void. If the army does step back, analysts agree, the consequences will fall squarely on the shoulders of the KP government.
Ultimately, peace must remain the priority—political narratives should never undermine national security, especially when military withdrawal could lead to irreversible setbacks.
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