Resurgence timeline

This letter refers to the article ‘Adding fuel to the fire’ (August 29, 2024) by Shafqat Mahmood. Between June 2014 and February 2017, the security forces carried out Operation Zarb-e-Azb very successfully and terrorism of most types, in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan was either wiped out or effectively contained. No doubt, there was considerable internal population displacement in some of the former tribal areas and it was expected that those displaced would soon be resettled and properly rehabilitated.

As far as KP is concerned, I can vouch that there was not much rehabilitation of internal refugees. We also began to notice a gradual return of the TTP and other extremist/terrorist groups in the province. I am sure that various terrorist organizations in Balochistan also came back thenceforth. I think that we must not forget these events and who was in charge at the time.

Ilyas Khan

Mansehra