By Ghulam Haider Shaikh
The attack on the convoy of the District Police Officer (DPO) in North Waziristan, which left five police personnel injured, is yet another grim reminder that the embers of militancy in the region are far from extinguished. Despite years of counterterrorism operations and a visible improvement in security, the persistent pattern of targeted assaults against law enforcement exposes the fragility of peace in Pakistan’s northwestern districts.
The attack underscores the high-risk environment in which security forces continue to operate. North Waziristan, once the epicenter of militant activity, remains a challenging terrain, both geographically and strategically. Police and security agencies there face not only hostile elements but also a complex social fabric influenced by tribal dynamics, cross-border infiltration, and the lingering effects of decades-long instability. The resilience and courage of the police in such conditions deserve the nation’s recognition, but so too does their need for better resources, intelligence support, and coordination with the military apparatus.
This incident also raises serious concerns about the resurgence of militant networks operating in the border regions. The timing of such attacks often coincides with regional political uncertainty or international developments involving Afghanistan. The porous border and fluctuating relations with the interim Afghan administration make Pakistan’s western frontier a constant source of security anxiety. A coordinated policy, combining border management, local intelligence, and socioeconomic development, is now indispensable to prevent the region from sliding back into chaos.
Moreover, the attack calls for introspection into how local policing in tribal areas has been structured since the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The transition promised governance and law enforcement reforms, yet implementation has been uneven. Without empowering local institutions and ensuring the presence of the state beyond checkpoints, peace will remain precarious.
The state must respond with more than condemnation and brief operations. Sustained investment in police modernization, technology, and community engagement is essential. North Waziristan cannot afford to become a revolving stage for militant ambushes and retaliatory crackdowns. The blood spilled by the injured officers must serve as a call to action, not merely to restore order, but to ensure that the shadows over Waziristan finally give way to lasting peace.
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