Security tightens amid threats as centre, provinces agree to joint strategy to ensure stability

• Talal Chaudhry says federal, provincial forces on high alert after recent air strikes in Afghanistan

• Says joint strategy agreed to ensure peace, stability and citizen protection nationwide

• Security forces arrest dozens of militants, handlers and facilitators in intensified operations

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security apparatus has deployed enhanced security measures and intensified operations to arrest suspects amid fears of a surge in terror attacks following air strikes in Afghanistan, while the centre and provincial governments have agreed on a joint strategy to maintain peace and stability across the country, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Wednesday.

The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting on law and order chaired by Minister of State Talal Chaudhry.

The development comes in the wake of a spike in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, attributed to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan — groups designated by the state as terror outfits backed by Indian proxies.

“Our forces are on high alert to counter any attacks… militants often react whenever we target their hideouts in Afghanistan,” Chaudhry told Reuters.

Pakistan carried out air strikes over the weekend on specific targets along the Afghanistan border in retaliation for recent suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of allowing terrorists to use Afghan soil as a safe haven, while Kabul denies the allegations, calling militancy Pakistan’s internal issue.

Recent terror attacks, include an ambush on a police vehicle in Kohat on Tuesday that killed six policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police and a suicide bombing at a Dajil checkpoint in Bhakkar that killed two policemen.

Chaudhry said these retaliatory attacks by militants underscore Pakistan’s claim that they maintain linkages in Afghanistan. He added that security forces have prevented several attacks in recent weeks and arrested numerous suspects, including Afghan nationals.

“Security forces have accelerated intelligence-based operations and arrested dozens of suspected militants, their handlers, and facilitators,” the minister said. Multiple sources confirmed that intelligence agencies have issued alerts warning of a possible surge in terror attacks targeting urban centers, markets, security forces, and places of worship in the coming days.

“We have received strong official warnings about potential terror attacks. Consequently, search operations have nearly doubled nationwide,” said an intelligence official.

Centre, Provinces Agree on Joint Strategy to Ensure Peace

During the meeting, the federal government assured provincial authorities of providing all necessary resources and technical support to maintain law and order.

“Protection of citizens’ lives and property is the state’s top priority,” Chaudhry said, praising the security forces for their continued sacrifices. “The security forces remain resolute and unwavering in defending the nation’s frontiers. Their bravery strengthens our resolve.”

The meeting was attended by the federal interior secretary, provincial inspector generals of police, provincial home secretaries, and the Islamabad chief commissioner and police chief.

Sharing details of meeting, Talal Ch said the discussion also assessed the threat landscape following Pakistan’s air strikes in Afghanistan, targeting camps and hideouts used by groups behind recent attacks, including the deadly suicide bombing at an Imambargah in Islamabad.

He said key figures behind these incidents had been trained inside Afghanistan, and many attacks had been planned there. Pakistan possesses conclusive evidence proving these attacks were orchestrated by Afghanistan-based handlers.

Chaudhry urged Kabul to implement the Doha Agreement, which prohibits the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities, emphasizing that the path to peace requires an end to cross-border terrorism. “While Pakistan desires peaceful relations with all neighbours, the security of its citizens remains non-negotiable,” he said.

The minister lamented that 2025 was the worst year for terror incidents in Pakistan to date, but affirmed that coordinated efforts by federal and provincial authorities would now take all possible steps to eliminate terrorism.

He highlighted the effectiveness of Pakistan’s institutional mechanisms for threat alerts, threat assessment, and rapid response, which have helped prevent major attacks nationwide.

Terror incidence continues to grow as Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) shows attacks in Pakistan nearly quadrupled from 658 in 2022 to 2,425 in 2025. Over the same period, attacks by outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rose more than seven-fold, from 118 to 838.