Asif Mahmood

Terrorism has once again tightened its grip on Pakistan. The sharpest blows are being felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where families live with the daily threat of violence. The surge of militant activity is not accidental—it is the result of cross-border sanctuaries, weak enforcement, and above all, the confusion within Pakistan’s own politics.

The regional dimension cannot be ignored. Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the nature of cross-border infiltration has changed dramatically. Many of those who cross over into Pakistan are not locals, and they benefit from safe zones and training grounds across the border. Despite repeated promises from Kabul, action against these networks remains half-hearted at best, cosmetic at worst.

But Pakistan’s internal politics have deepened the problem. The conciliatory approach taken in the past—especially under the PTI government—did not bring peace. On the contrary, it gave militants the space to reorganize. Even today, the KP administration under PTI appears reluctant to take a hard line, weakening counterterrorism operations and giving extremists confidence.

Just as damaging is the narrative battle. Instead of strengthening national consensus, political voices often blur it. PTI’s soft language when speaking about terrorism and its cross-border backers undermines clarity. At times, groups in alliance with PTI go so far as to dismiss security operations as a “dollar war,” language that echoes propaganda rather than reality. Such rhetoric dishonors the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in the fight.

The refugee issue adds another layer. Networks tied to undocumented populations have been repeatedly misused by militant actors for recruitment and logistics. Yet efforts to address this problem through organized repatriation have been stalled, often under political pressure. The result is a shadow infrastructure that fuels militancy while eroding state authority.

The social costs are devastating. Families of martyrs are left wondering whether their sacrifices matter when politics continues to dance around the issue. Citizens grow confused when leaders avoid calling terrorism by its name, or when old bargains are repeated under new disguises.

What is needed now is not mystery but clarity. Pakistan’s political forces must unite around a simple principle: there can be no tolerance for terrorism, no space for its apologists, and no ambiguity in policy. Repatriation of undocumented Afghans must continue in a gradual but firm way, closing the logistical pipelines that militants exploit. And perhaps most urgently, political leaders must take responsibility for their words and stop playing into divisive narratives.

This is not only a military fight. It is a political, ideological and social struggle. Until Pakistan’s politicians abandon their doublespeak and present a united front, terrorism will continue to find oxygen in our divisions. The choice is stark: either clarity now, or confusion with a price that grows heavier by the day.