Published on, Sept. 28 -- September 27, 2025 11:59 PM

At a time when Pakistan is once again counting its dead in the tribal belt, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government appears to be playing politics with national security. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's pronouncement that his province "will not allow any operation" is reckless. In counterterrorism, ambiguity is oxygen for insurgents. The TTP knows this. And so does Kabul.

The record is stark. In recent weeks, operations in Bajaur, South Waziristan and Lower Dir left 19 soldiers martyred and at least 45 militants killed.

The fighting is intense and the sacrifice heavy. Every credible assessment points to the same conclusion. The TTP is operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. It c...