KP Police is currently facing many threats because Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is one of the most favorable geographical regions to conduct terrorist attacks in Pakistan. It is considered a safe haven for insurgents, terrorists, and extremist groups. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the epicenter of many different forms of violent protests, insurgency, sectarian violence, and terrorism since its creation in 1901.
The KP Police has been playing a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism over the past few years. They have arrested hundreds of terror suspects, busted terror training camps, and helped bring down several sleeper cells. The police force has also been instrumental in providing security to critical installations, including military installations and dams.
The KP police have also been at the forefront of fighting cross-border terrorism. In August 2017, for example, as many as 11 suspected terrorists were killed after an ambush was laid by the police on their vehicle in Nowshera district. Similarly, in February 2018, eight militants were neutralized after an exchange of fire with a group of policemen at Check Post Ghundi near Miramshah town in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
With this article, we will be discussing some of the important roles the KP police have played over the years in combating terrorism and other criminal activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Fighting Cross-Border Terrorism
The KP Police have played a crucial role in countering cross-border terrorism. In 2017, for example, the police arrested 82 suspects who were allegedly involved in planning and facilitating terror attacks in Pakistan. Many of the arrested suspects were allegedly affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). The police also arrested a Canadian citizen named Robina Ghandi, who was allegedly running a social media campaign to promote sectarian violence in the country. In August 2018, the police foiled an alleged planned attack on an army post with the help of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Bajaur Agency (BA).
Providing Security to Critical installations
Over the years, the KP Police have been playing a key role in ensuring security at critical installations in the province. In January 2018, a group of militants attempted to attack the Pak-China Friendship Dam, located at Rawalakot in KP. However, the police were already present at the dam and managed to foil the attack.
Eradicating Terrorist Organizations
Over the years, the KP Police have been successful in eradicating several terrorist organizations from the province. In August 2009, for example, the police arrested six members of the SSP who were allegedly involved in the murders of several people, including a former senior police officer. This was followed by the arrest of six members of the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) in September 2011. The HuJI had been active in the province since 2002 and had also been linked to a number of terrorist attacks. The HuJI was finally disbanded in 2013.
Assistance provided by the KP Police to the Military in Countering Terrorist Groups
Over the years, the KP Police have also been assisting the military in countering terrorist groups. This is evident from the fact that most of the police hideouts and training camps of the militants have been located in the proximity of military installations. This has led the military to request the KP Police for assistance in neutralizing the militants. In December 2017, the police launched a joint operation with the Army to arrest a group of terrorists, linked to the banned Pakistan Liberation Front (PLF), in Orakzai Agency. The militants had been planning to attack security installations in proximity to military installations in the area.
Conclusion
The KP police force has played an instrumental role in combating terrorism in the province. With an aim to improve their performance, the police have been trying to strengthen their intelligence network, train their personnel in counter-terrorism and counter-hijack techniques and build strong alliances with other law enforcement agencies. Over the years, the KP police have been successful in curbing terrorist activities by arresting hundreds of suspects and establishing strong links with other law enforcement agencies. They have also been successful in performing their duties of protecting critical installations and providing security to civilians. However, for the KP police to be a more effective force, they need to build strong partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.
