The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised serious alarms regarding the rapidly worsening security and human rights conditions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, pointing to an atmosphere of increasing fear, lawlessness, and diminishing civilian control across the province.

According to HRCP’s recent investigative report, Caught in the Crossfire, K-P accounted for almost two-thirds of all terrorist incidents nationwide in 2025, with security and law enforcement personnel being the primary targets of these attacks.

The report identifies the merged districts as the focal point of ongoing violence, where local populations suffer disproportionately from insecurity, forced relocations, and inadequate access to legal remedies.

HRCP’s findings indicate that civilian deaths and intelligence-led operations carried out without proper civilian supervision have become commonplace, while police and local authorities are often sidelined in critical security decisions.

Disturbing accounts from residents highlight mounting anger over arbitrary arrests, the ongoing use of internment centers authorized by the 2019 Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Ordinance, and the persistent issue of enforced disappearances. The report further notes that journalists covering these sensitive topics encounter censorship, intimidation, and violent attacks, which severely compromise press freedom and public accountability. Peace activists, tribal leaders, and political figures have also been singled out, exacerbating feelings of fear and distrust among communities.

Additional concerns outlined in the report include unaddressed sectarian and tribal conflicts in Kurram, economic hardship caused by extended road blockades, and growing public skepticism about the management of mining revenues and development funds in the region.