Published on, Sept. 14 -- September 14, 2025 12:16 AM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's pledge to use the "full force of the state" after 19 soldiers were martyred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captured the nation's grief and defiance, and for that he deserves credit. His words reflected the public mood. Yet, they also fit a tragic pattern: each time soldiers fall, vows of resolve are made, operations are announced, but the broader drift continues.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has regained momentum, executing increasingly lethal attacks and rebuilding networks in the tribal belt. This is not the result of a sudden surge but of sustained space to regroup. The most damaging misstep was the decision in 2021-22 to pursue talks with the TTP. Brokere...