Pakistan Army’s Role Against Terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Post-US Withdrawal (2021–2024)

Abstract

The August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power precipitated a sharp escalation of terrorist violence in Pakistan. This paper examines the Pakistan Army’s counterterrorism role in the post-withdrawal period (2021–2024) with a focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the merged former tribal districts. Security data reveals a dramatic surge in incidents; Pakistan suffered 521 attacks in 2024, causing 852 deaths , a 23% increase from 2023, with KP alone witnessing 295 attacks and 509 fatalities that year, largely due to a rejuvenated Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan sanctuaries. The Army responded with intensified operations, notably continuing Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and launching Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in 2024, resulting in hundreds of militant casualties. Concurrently, Pakistan managed an influx of approximately 600,000 Afghan refugees via KP, straining resources and complicating border security. The military's approach involved navigating complex civil-military relations amid civilian concerns about both militancy and security tactics. This analysis concludes that sustainable security requires integrating kinetic operations with political engagement, development initiatives, and regional diplomacy to address underlying conflict drivers.