Islamabad – There has been a major political conflict that has been escalating in Pakistan as the federal government has accused a key opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of hampering the counterterrorism operations in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Some groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are accusing the government of using “Good and Bad Taliban” narratives to continue the operation in the province.  According to the government, the opposition is trying to undermine the actions of the state and safeguard its allies.

Government officials and various political analysts say the story is an effort at presenting the use of the military and law enforcement as unlawful and oppressive. They accuse the PTI of hypocrisy, as when the party was in government, the same extremists now being hunted by the security forces were permitted to re-establish themselves in the province.

Recent Attacks by Militants

Over the past few months, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intensified its attacks, mostly in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Recently, on August 6, several attacks led to the death of at least five security officials and three civilians in Karak, Peshawar, and Lakki Marwat districts. On the next day, three people were killed and 13 others injured in a bomb blast in Wana tehsil, South Waziristan.

Such cases come after July recorded a nationwide spike with 82 militant attacks that resulted in 215 deaths, including 37 security officials. On June 28, another major suicide bombing took place in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killing at least 13 Pakistani soldiers.