Published: 11:29 PM, 17 August 2026
Terror strikes in Pakistan!
Dr. Shantanu Mukharji
According to a series of news appearing in the Pakistan media, the country is facing a serious security crisis as terror violence hits a sharp rise in the preceding month of July 2026. During this deadliest month, over 112 security personnel were killed while resisting insurgent elements all over Pakistan. This surge, alongside a persistent civilian death toll averaging dozes of causalities monthly, underscores relentless cross-border infiltration possibly from the western frontier. Compounding the crisis, these hostile actors exploit internal safe havens by collaborating actively with groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Neutralizing these active sleeper cells demands an unyielding and robust kinetic strategy and this demand continues to gain momentum. It is, however, unfathomable as to what is Pakistan intelligence set up is doing to prevent activities of the sleeper cells and the ongoing collaboration with undesirable elements?
Significantly, the main theatre of action remains Balochistan, where the overall death toll rose by 241%, rising from 109 in June to 372 in July. Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) registered 154 deaths in July as compared to 75 in June, marking an increase of over 100 percent. The prevailing pattern of terror consists of suicide bombings and the ramming the explosives-laden vehicles into security check posts or police stations. The fact that law enforcement personnel and peace committee members are the prime targets, highlights the mindset of this terror syndicate, which aims to impair the resilience of these individuals. Furthermore, attacks on civilians including Chinese engineers and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development personnel indicate that “hostile” forces inimical to Pakistan are hellbent to derail the growing momentum of geo-economics in the region.
Interestingly, Pakistan tries in vain to look resilient. Furthermore, there is an ongoing public discourse regarding the complex socio-economic, political and strategic factors that have allowed terrorism to increase. The immediate priority, as per the Pakistan security analysts, is a synchronized roadmap, that integrates political will with military “capability” to dismantle terrorist networks decisively and effectively. At least, this is what the Pakistani security experts feel.
Talking more specifically, the death toll from August 2 suicide bombing outside Kabal Police Station in Swat rose to 17 on August 3, with seven policemen among those killed, as the KP government ordered a full-scale operation against terrorists and renewed its action to restore peace in the region. Meanwhile, according to an updated list released by Swat police spokesperson, the victims include seven police officials and 10 civilians, while 27 others, comprising 18 policemen and nine civilians, sustained injuries. Police also revised the death toll from an earlier figure of 19 announced in a preliminary statement. Meanwhile, the atmosphere across Swat remained heavy losses. In a show of solidarity with the affected families and to condemn the attack, the local trader community called for a complete shutter-down strike in Kabal and the surrounding areas on August 3. Kabal Bazaar, all major and minor markets, shopping malls, superstores, medical stores and other commercial centres remained fully closed, leaving the streets deserted. Trader leaders strongly denounced the incident and declared that the peace of Swat would not be allowed to be disturbed under any circumstances. This shows the extent of ire amongst the local population. This notwithstanding, the terror scene in Pakistan continues to look grim with no signs of any hope or redemption at least in the near foreseeable future.
Reacting to the incident, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives. In separate statements they offered condolences to the families of those killed, prayed for the recovery of the wounded and directed authorities to ensure the wounded receive the best possible medical treatment. Zardari and Sharif also said Pakistan’s fight against terrorism would continue until it was completely eradicated. Such statements are nothing new. They are routinely made and fade away as soon as the dust settles down. People seem to realize these hollow statements made at regular intervals.
Here, it is also relevant to mention that the Swat Valley was once a stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed a strict interpretation of sharia, or Islamic law, before the Pakistani military launched a major operation in 2007 that drove them out and restored government control. However, terrorists have resurfaced in Pakistan’s Swat Valley in recent months, fueling fears that the Pakistani Taliban are seeking to regain a foothold in the region. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, popularly known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the TTP.
It is also pertinent to state that Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harbouring TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies. The country has experienced a surge in militant attacks in recent years, particularly targeting police and the security forces.
In the foregoing, in a security related development, the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed (August 4) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective Ministries of Defence, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, security, and military capability development. The MoU was signed in Islamabad by the Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who is on an official visit to Pakistan leading a delegation, and the Minister of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif. The MoU provides a framework for cooperation in counter-terrorism, military training, the exchange of military expertise and knowledge, defence capability development, and enhanced security cooperation in support of efforts to promote peace and stability. As per the official sources, the signing of the MoU reflects the shared commitment of Somalia and Pakistan to strengthening their strategic partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation in defence and security, laying the foundation for a practical and enduring partnership that serves the mutual interests of both countries.
Analyzing the deal, it would strike as counterintuitive to see Islamabad doing this sort of international outreach at a time when it is battling severe internal unrest in three provinces (Balochistan, KP and Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir). A segment of the media says the MoU provides a framework for cooperation in counter-terrorism, military training, the exchange of military expertise and knowledge, defence capability development, and enhanced security cooperation in support of efforts to promote peace and stability and that is possibly stepping in to complement Turkey in sustained military presence in Somalia.
It may also be stressed that Turkey already maintains a large "Training Mission" in Somalia (Camp TURKSOM). Possibly, this is a part of moves by the emerging Islamic QUAD (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar) on the North Africa - West Asian chessboard. Seen together with recent announcement by Saudi Arabia of the 14-member maritime coalition against the Houthis, this may also lead to greater Turkey-Pak coordinated naval presence in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden, and off the Horn of Africa. This calls for a close watch by the concerned agencies.
This said, whatever Pakistan may do to enter into security linked pacts with Somalia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Islamic bloc, unless it addresses its internal security concerns with a robust intelligence machinery and a professional security apparatus, it cannot expect to contain terror which has badly afflicted Pakistan.
Dr. Shantanu Mukharji is a retired IPS
officer and former National Security
Adviser in Mauritius.
