Amid a rising wave of terrorism in the tribal and underdeveloped regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local residents have begun taking responsibility for their own security. In the latest development, people from the Hathi Khel area of Bannu have announced the formation of a 70-member committee to resist increasing militant activities in the region.

Reasons and Objectives Behind the Committee’s Formation

Elder Fida Khan from Hathi Khel told Khabar Kada that residents are deeply troubled by continuous militant operations and their growing demands. According to him, militants openly move around the area, extort money from locals, and cause widespread damage. “People have had enough of the terrorists,” he said. “Their old fear is gone now.”

In response to the worsening situation, a jirga (tribal council) representing four major tribes of Hathi Khel decided to form the 70-member committee. The main goal of this committee is to patrol the entire area and prevent militant activities.

Cooperation with the Government

Fida Khan said that the combined population of the four tribes in Bannu is around 300,000 people, and they are ready to fully cooperate with the government. He added that residents already have their own weapons, but if necessary, they would also receive support from the police and security forces.

This is not the first time locals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have taken charge of their own security. In recent months, communities across the province have been forming local defence committees to stand up against terrorism. Earlier, residents in Dir, Orakzai, Bajaur, and several other areas had also organized such committees. These small groups, usually made up of 10 to 15 armed men, patrol their villages at night to stop militants from entering. Members of these committees say that militants bring violence to their areas and harass ordinary people.

Examples of Successful Local Actions

A few days ago in Bannu, locals successfully carried out an operation after militants kidnapped a police officer. Residents quickly identified and surrounded the house of the militant involved. They captured the militant’s father and brother and declared that they would only release them once the kidnapped police officer was freed. According to locals, this pressure worked — the abducted officer was safely released and returned home.

Rising Anger and Hatred Against Militants

Experts say that public anger and resentment toward militants has grown sharply in recent months. Defence analyst Riaz Ahmed said that ordinary citizens are the main victims of terrorism. “It’s the common people who die in bomb blasts and targeted attacks,” he said. “Hospitals and schools are attacked, and it’s civilians who suffer.”

Riaz Ahmed further explained that when militants kidnap security personnel, those soldiers are also sons of ordinary families serving the country. “That’s why hatred against terrorists is growing rapidly,” he added.