Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) recorded 30 foreign tourists and 75,000 domestic visitors across the province&rsquo;s key destinations during the brief New Year period. As 2025 drew to a close, Pakistan&#39;s northwestern province witnessed a massive surge in tourism fueled by a picturesque winter spell, a fitting end to a record-breaking year.&nbsp; According to data released by KPCTA, a powerful weather system brought heavy snowfall and rain across the province, ending a prolonged dry spell and drawing thousands of visitors eager to witness the seasonal transformation. The Swat Valley emerged as the premier attraction, welcoming a staggering 52,788 domestic tourists and 28 foreign visitors during the final days of December.&nbsp; Other regions also saw significant activity; Naran and Kaghan hosted 3,300 visitors, while even remote areas like the Kumrat Valley and the Kalash Valley recorded hundreds of arrivals.&nbsp; The Galiyat region, in particular, became a focal point for winter enthusiasts.&nbsp; While 19,000 tourists visited the area in the final days of December, the influx intensified as the year turned to 2026. Shah Rukh Ali, Director General of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), reported that more than 30,000 tourists flooded the area during the first two days of the new year. Approximately 6,200 vehicles ferried travelers into the region. Despite this heavy volume, traffic flow remained smooth, mainly because tourists used the Harnu and Barrian routes from Abbottabad.&nbsp; More importantly, DG Shah Rukh Ali confirmed that this high volume of visitors was handled safely, with no accidents or complaints reported across the region. The success was achieved through the strategic deployment of newly renovated snow-clearing machinery and the constant vigilance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Police.&nbsp; The efforts of the local authorities ensured that the transition into 2026 was both a festive and secure experience for travelers from across the country.

Climate & Environment

Economy

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province saw a surge in tourism fueled by a picturesque winter spell.

Over 75,000 tourists visit Pakistan's northwestern hill resorts during New Year's

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Deputy Head of Mission to Foreign Office following a suicide terrorist attack in North Waziristan that martyred four security personnel, as Islamabad slammed Afghanistan-based militants and demanded decisive action.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Foreign Office condemned the attack in the &ldquo;strongest possible terms,&rdquo; saying it was carried out by &ldquo;Khwarij belonging to the Kharji Gul Bahadur Group&rdquo; against a military camp in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Khawarij&rdquo; for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking a historical label for an extremist sect in early Islam that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims apostates.&nbsp;&ldquo;To convey our strong demarche, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Pakistan demanded a thorough investigation and concrete measures against those responsible for planning, facilitating and executing terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.&nbsp;Earlier, four terrorists were killed and four Pakistani soldiers were martyred when security forces foiled the major attack on December 19 in the Boya area of North Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;&ldquo;In a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked a security forces camp,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that the attackers attempted to breach the camp&rsquo;s perimeter.&nbsp;The military said troops responded swiftly, preventing the militants from entering the facility.&nbsp;After failing to penetrate the defenses, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall, causing its collapse and damaging nearby civilian infrastructure, including a mosque.&nbsp;&ldquo;This blatant act of barbarism inflicted severe injuries on 15 local civilians, including women and children,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that several homes were also damaged.&nbsp;Security forces engaged the attackers and killed all four terrorists. &ldquo;Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the intruders with precision,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;During the intense exchange of fire, four soldiers embraced martyrdom. The ISPR identified them as Havildar Muhammad Waqas, 42, from Kotli; Naik Khanwaiz, 38, from Mansehra; Sepoy Sufyan Haider, 25, from Vehari; and Sepoy Riffat, 32, from Layyah.&nbsp;&ldquo;Having fought gallantly, these brave sons of the soil paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,&rdquo; the military said.&nbsp;The ISPR said the attack was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based Khwarij, contradicting claims by the Afghan interim authorities that no militant groups are operating from their territory.&nbsp;Pakistan urged the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan reserves the right to hunt these Khwarij down and eliminate their facilitators and affiliates to ensure the safety of its people,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office added that Afghan interim authorities have been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens amid rising cross-border militancy.&nbsp;Militant activity in KP has surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with armed groups frequently targeting security convoys, checkpoints, and government officials through attacks, kidnappings, and assassinations.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly warned that militant groups, including Fitna al Khwarij, are operating from safe havens across the Afghan border and receiving foreign support to conduct terrorist operations within Pakistan.&nbsp;Islamabad has consistently raised these concerns with Afghan interim authorities, calling for decisive action. Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s continued diplomatic engagement and restraint, repeated cross-border attacks have escalated tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;

Security

Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s interim envoy after a suicide attack in North Waziristan martyred four soldiers. Islamabad blamed Afghanistan-based militants, demanded action against perpetrators, and reaffirmed its right to defend sovereignty amid rising cross-border militancy

Pakistan issues demarche to Kabul following deadly North Waziristan attack

ISLAMABAD: Fifteen terrorists were killed in two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts on Nov. 15 and 16, according to a statement released&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;by&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces. The military&#39;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that those killed were affiliated with the &ldquo;Indian proxy Fitna Al Khawarij.&rdquo; Pakistan uses the term &quot;Fitna Al Khawarij&quot; to refer to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella network of armed terrorist groups. According to the ISPR statement, the first operation took place in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan, where troops engaged a hideout after reports of the presence of terrorists in the vicinity. The engagement resulted in the killing of 10 terrorists, including their ring leader, Alam Mehsud. A second operation in Datta Khel, North Waziristan, where &quot;troops successfully neutralized five more khwarij,&quot; the statement said. &quot;Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area&quot;, ISPR said.&nbsp; The statement added that the counter-terrorism campaign, launched under the vision &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; would continue with full force. &ldquo;Relentless counter-terrorism operations by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the ISPR said. President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday praised Pakistani security forces for eliminating the terrorists, saying the actions show Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to defeat foreign-backed terrorism. In a message on X, the president commended the security forces for targeting what he called elements of the &ldquo;Indian-sponsored Fitna Al Khwarij.&rdquo; He said Pakistan, with national agreement, would continue its efforts under the Azm-e-Istehkam plan to end militancy. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1990651792653435231&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=0ef9866f801f92ccb5415e7267a82e498bc0f879&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The latest IBOs come a week after the ISPR said that at least 24 terrorists were killed by security forces in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, including the recent attack targeting Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan district. Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist activities, especially in&nbsp;Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&nbsp;and Balochistan. The surge began after the banned TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022 and vowed to target security forces and law enforcement officials.

File Photo - Pakistani troops (Radio Pakistan) 

Pakistan’s security forces said that 15 terrorists were killed in two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts on November 15 and 16 in a statement issued on Tuesday.

15 terrorists killed in two intelligence-based operations: military

Staff Reporter

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have issued a high weather alert for November 4 and 5, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in multiple districts already recovering from devastating floods earlier this year.&nbsp;The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the incoming weather system poses a &ldquo;significant risk,&rdquo; particularly in mountainous areas weakened by the August 2025 cloudburst disaster that claimed nearly 400 lives across the province.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is not a routine weather advisory,&rdquo; the PDMA said in its alert. &ldquo;Given recent damage to terrain and infrastructure, even moderate rainfall may trigger landslides and disrupt mobility and essential services.&rdquo;&nbsp;The weather system is expected to affect nearly the entire province.&nbsp;Rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall are forecast in northern districts, including Upper and Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, and Mohmand.&nbsp;Rain and thunderstorms are also likely in central and southern areas, including Peshawar, Kohat, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North and South Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.&nbsp;Saeda Saleh, a meteorologist with the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said the system is being driven by &ldquo;western winds,&rdquo; adding that authorities have urged the public to remain alert.&nbsp;&ldquo;People should stay cautious, especially in areas where the land is still unstable,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Officials fear that already weakened slopes in flood-affected districts could give way. The Met Office has explicitly warned of possible landslides in Abbottabad, Battagram, Dir, Chitral, Kohistan, Kurram, Shangla, and Swat, many of the same regions that were heavily impacted in August.&nbsp;In response, PDMA has directed all district administrations to activate emergency protocols, including &ldquo;cleaning of drainage systems to prevent urban flooding&rdquo; and ensuring &ldquo;full readiness of emergency response teams&rdquo; for rapid deployment. Authorities have also been instructed to issue timely alerts to residents and travelers, particularly in high-risk valleys.&nbsp;Residents have been strongly advised to avoid non-essential travel during the weather spell. Farmers and livestock owners, who suffered severe losses in the August floods, have been urged to move animals and stored crops to safer areas as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;PDMA said it will continue to monitor developments and provide further updates as the system approaches.

Pakistan’s disaster authority issued a high alert for November 4–5 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall that could trigger landslides in flood-weakened mountain districts and disrupt essential services.

Landslides weather warning alert issued for Pakistan's north-west

PESHAWAR: With militant groups in northwestern Pakistan increasingly deploying drone technology to strike security forces and state installations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities have begun rolling out advanced anti-drone guns as part of a revised counter-terror response, senior police officials said.&nbsp;Militant outfits operating in KP have steadily expanded their use of quadcopter drones to launch attacks, shifting the conflict &ldquo;from a horizontal to a vertical level.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bannu Police Sajjad Khan said the drones being used are &ldquo;acquired through the black market and smuggled across the border from Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to internal estimates, 57 drone-assisted attacks were reported between July and August alone.&nbsp;Earlier this month, militants targeted the Khadi Fort of paramilitary forces in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Before using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), militants deployed drones to strike the compound and divert security personnel.&nbsp;In another incident in Bannu district, officials reported at least eight drone attacks over recent months, including one where an explosive drone missed its intended target and hit a nearby house, killing a woman and injuring three children.&nbsp;The drones, often commercially available quadcopters modified to carry explosives or mortar shells, have prompted a new defensive strategy.&nbsp;The KP police have begun equipping personnel with anti-drone guns designed to disrupt the communication link between a drone and its operator. These devices emit electromagnetic pulses that jam the drone&rsquo;s control, navigation, and video feed, forcing it to land safely and allowing for intelligence extraction.&nbsp;Sajjad Khan said the technology can disable suspicious drones from up to three kilometers away, providing protection for public gatherings, security convoys, and sensitive locations.&nbsp;The first operational deployment took place in July during the Ashura procession in Peshawar, where officials say the technology helped prevent attacks during an event historically vulnerable to violence.&nbsp;Initially, anti-drone systems are being deployed in Peshawar, Bannu, and Bajaur, districts that have seen a spike in militant activity.&nbsp;The Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP, Riaz Khan, told Pakistan TV Digital that the technology &ldquo;is now being used in many areas,&rdquo; and that its introduction has &ldquo;successfully reduced drone attacks to zero in the areas where it has been implemented.&rdquo;&nbsp;This early success has encouraged a broader rollout. IGP KP Zulfiquar Hameed recently announced that 70 drones will be deployed across the province, including to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), alongside the acquisition of additional anti-drone guns. The objective, he said, is to build a &ldquo;comprehensive security umbrella&rdquo; across KP.&nbsp;The KP police say they remain committed to &ldquo;making the citizens of KP and Pakistan safer by equipping their forces with the latest technologies.&rdquo;

In Pakistan’s northwestern province, authorities have deployed anti-drone guns to counter militants increasingly using quadcopter drones for attacks, disrupting their communication signals and reducing drone strikes in key high-risk districts.

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik has said Pakistan&rsquo;s recent actions along the border should not be viewed as &ldquo;aggressive&rdquo; but rather as a &ldquo;firm stance&rdquo; to safeguard the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and protect its people from cross-border terrorist attacks.&nbsp;&ldquo;I would not call it aggressive, I would call it firm,&rdquo; Dr. Malik said, emphasizing that Pakistan&rsquo;s position is rooted in defending its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens, particularly those living in border regions.&nbsp;He noted that communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan have long borne the brunt of terrorism and instability.&nbsp;&ldquo;Most of the people who live along the borders have already faced a lot of devastation. The poor and the most vulnerable are being attacked,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The minister also paid tribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s security personnel, highlighting the daily sacrifices made by soldiers and law enforcement officials combating terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our security forces are facing attacks every day. We are losing young men almost daily, and that is unacceptable,&rdquo; Dr Malik said.&nbsp;He stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to confront terrorist networks was not about escalation, but about self-defence and national security. &ldquo;If there are organizations and hideouts involved in acts of terror or directly attacking Pakistan, then the state has every right to act firmly &mdash; as any country would,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Dr Malik underscored that Pakistan will continue to take decisive measures to protect its borders and people, reiterating that the nation will not allow its children or vulnerable communities to &ldquo;be put in harm&rsquo;s way for nothing.&rdquo;

The Perspective

Minister Musadik Malik described Pakistan’s recent border actions as a 'firm stance' to protect sovereignty and citizens from terrorism, praising security forces’ sacrifices and affirming continued decisive measures for national safety.

Articles tagged with "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa"

Over 75,000 tourists visit Pakistan's northwestern hill resorts during New Year's

Pakistan issues demarche to Kabul following deadly North Waziristan attack

15 terrorists killed in two intelligence-based operations: military

Landslides weather warning alert issued for Pakistan's north-west

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan’s actions ‘firm, not aggressive’, says Minister Musadik Malik