A high-level cabinet committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun to review the security and governance situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amid concerns over rising terrorist attacks and gaps in the provincial government’s counterterrorism measures.
The meeting is attended by senior government figures, including Ishaq Dar, Mohsin Naqvi, Khawaja Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Ahad Cheema, Aleem Khan, Amir Muqam, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Rana Tanveer Hussain.
Two special security reports prepared by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and intelligence agencies are expected to be presented at the meeting, according to the provided briefing.
The committee is expected to examine the province’s deteriorating security situation, the increase in terrorist incidents and institutional shortcomings affecting the police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
According to the reports, terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa increased by 195% between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026.
The reports also indicate that 73% of terrorist attacks recorded in 2026 targeted police and security personnel.
The use of drones by terrorist groups has emerged as another security concern. The briefing states that no drone attacks against police and security forces were reported in 2024, while the number reportedly reached 170 in 2026.
The committee is also expected to review the reported increase in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, with 181 incidents recorded in 2025 and 159 reported up to September 2026.
The security reports have identified several challenges facing law enforcement agencies, including more than 9,000 vacant positions in the provincial police, shortages of modern weapons and operational equipment, inadequate armoured vehicles in southern districts, and limited surveillance, night-vision and thermal-imaging equipment.
The reports also highlight shortages of trained personnel and infrastructure in the CTD, as well as capacity gaps in police units operating in the merged districts.
The committee is expected to assess the reasons behind the worsening law and order situation, the provincial government’s preparedness and the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures.
