Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has warned of possible collateral damage during planned intelligence-based operations in designated districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if residents fail to distance themselves from terrorists or drive them out of their localities.
Speaking on the private television programme Naya Pakistan on Friday, Sanaullah said around 70 per cent of terrorist formations were present in the designated districts, where law enforcement agencies are preparing targeted operations.
K-P IBO collateral damage warning: what Sanaullah said
Sanaullah said terrorists entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and carried out attacks, alleging that training camps across the border operated with Indian funding and training. He added that reports also suggested Israeli involvement in such attacks.
“That is why Pakistan’s armed forces have closed the border with Afghanistan. You must also be aware that no trade is taking place through that route,” he said.
The PML-N leader said the security forces knew the number of terrorists and their current locations. The groups comprised between three and 15 members each, he said, and were hiding among the local population, living alongside ordinary citizens rather than operating openly.
“The people have been told either to drive these elements out of their populated areas or, if they do not want to do so, to move aside themselves so that the operation can proceed. If neither of these options is possible, there is a risk of collateral damage,” he said.
Criticism of the K-P government
Sanaullah said the armed forces could dismantle and neutralise the terrorist groups within three to five months. He criticised K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for what he described as a lack of cooperation with law enforcement agencies in tackling terrorists and their facilitators.
He alleged that the provincial leadership had previously supported the terrorists and discouraged cooperation with security forces, telling them that operations against the militants would not be allowed. A committee has now been established under a former governor to oversee the effort, and Sanaullah expressed confidence that dismantling the networks was achievable.
Asked how future operations would differ from previous ones, given that 7,177 intelligence-based operations had been conducted over the past six months, he said the provincial government and civil administration would be responsible for holding cleared areas. Authorities would ensure militants could not return or re-establish a presence.
“Things were different earlier. Many areas were cleared three or four times, but the problem persisted because the responsibilities that should have been fulfilled by the provincial government and civil administration were not carried out,” he said.
Security backdrop
The warning comes amid a sharp security campaign. Security forces recently killed 10 terrorists as they foiled attacks in Gwadar, as reported in 10 terrorists killed as forces foil Gwadar attacks. The chief of defence forces also vowed to hit Indian-sponsored terror outfits hard during a visit to Peshawar, covered in CDF Munir vows to hit terror outfits hard.
His remarks also followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a Rs160 billion development package for K-P after a meeting with the Area Development Council, comprising tribal district representatives and elders, at the Governor House in Peshawar. The prime minister directed authorities to strengthen the Counter Terrorism Department and assured full federal resources to eradicate terrorism.
On the political front, Sanaullah has separately reached out to the opposition on counterterrorism consensus, as reported in Sanaullah urges opposition leader to meet PM Shehbaz.
Frequently asked questions
What did Rana Sanaullah warn about?
He warned that civilians could suffer collateral damage during planned intelligence-based operations in designated K-P districts if residents neither drive terrorists out of their areas nor move aside to let security forces operate.
How many terrorists are in the designated K-P districts?
Sanaullah said around 70 per cent of terrorist formations were present in the designated districts, with groups comprising between three and 15 members each, hiding among the local population.
How long will the operations take?
He said the armed forces could dismantle and neutralise the terrorist groups within three to five months, with the provincial government responsible for holding cleared areas afterwards.
What development package was announced for K-P?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs160 billion development package for K-P a day earlier, alongside directions to strengthen the Counter Terrorism Department.
