Pakistan is fighting a multifront war against anti-state elements. Banned groups involved in terrorism and their backers, masked as human rights activists, are playing a dirty game. While banned groups like Fitna-e-Khawaraaj (FAK) and Fitna-e-Hindustan (FUH) launch attacks against state institutions and unarmed civilians, so-called ethno-linguist pressure groups (like PTM, NDM, BYC) try to divert attention from terrorist acts by overplaying victimhood rhetoric. As a whole, terrorism revolves around hard-core attacks, propaganda, lies, and criminal activities.
Terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and their access to sophisticated, war-grade weaponry pose greater threats in KP. Terrorists from FAK are targeting security forces with drone strikes. Ironically, ethno-linguist groups are accusing the state of drone strikes without uttering a word against the terrorists. A similar misleading tone was adopted in a poorly articulated piece published in the NYT on June 19, 2025.
As a matter of fact, FAK targeted the office of the AC Ladha, causing damage to the building and injuries to innocent citizens. The Mir Ali drone incident has also been attributed to FAK, which led to the martyrdom of innocent children. Surprisingly, these blatant drone strikes were completely overlooked by the writer and the so-called human rights activists. Responsible journalism must acknowledge that terrorist groups like the TTP are using drones to target civilians.
Terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and their access to sophisticated, war-grade weaponry pose greater threats in KP.
Another important aspect is the presence of terrorists in civilian areas, from where they use civilians as human shields. When militants embed themselves in civic areas, the casualties of common masses become a tragic consequence of this lethal strategy. Failing to contextualize this bitter fact misleads the public. Narratives of ethnically inspired anarchists always flourish on fake propaganda against the state. Mature journalists should critically evaluate all sources and ground facts to avoid becoming amplifiers of fabricated false rhetoric.
The use of drones by Pakistan’s security forces against the Khawarij is always precise and pinpoint. On the flipside, terrorists have used quadcopters not only against security forces but also to target civilians. Though this fact has even been acknowledged in the NYT article, equating terrorists with state institutions is unjustifiable. Locals support drone operations against terrorists but avoid expressing their sentiments publicly due to obvious threats from FAK. Ignoring these voices leads to a one-sided portrayal which subsequently compromises journalistic ethics.
There should be a fair and unbiased distinction between genuine public grievances and the political exploitation of security issues. Presenting ill-conceived protests as political activity without probing the malicious intent supports the anarchists. Pakistan faces complex hybrid threats that merit advanced responses like drones. Reducing these realities to a narrative of state aggression reflects a lack of maturity in understanding national security imperatives.
Terrorists are also involved in criminal activities to extort hard cash through kidnapping for ransom, intimidation, and coercion of vulnerable masses. Terrorists affiliated with FAK are using fear as a tool to grip society, and their survival is based on public exploitation. The deadly strategy of terrorists and anarchists relies on bloodshed, public coercion through criminal activities, deceitful propaganda, blatant lies, and distracting campaigning on digital platforms. Support from foreign spoiler forces is an important irritant that adds more complexity to the security matrix.
Though the South Asian region has backtracked from the brink of war due to the strategic maturity of Pakistan, India’s deeper involvement in cross-border terrorism might trigger a major conflict between nuclear states. Anti-Pakistan terrorist groups are thriving with Indian support, which flows in uninterruptedly in the form of finances, weapons, and propaganda.
The writer is a student.