Monitor Report
October 01, 2026
Rising Prices Put Pressure on Low-Income Families in Peshawar
A survey by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) has found that rising prices are putting serious financial pressure on low-income families in Peshawar. According to the survey, 89 percent of households are borrowing money to meet their daily needs, while 95.1 percent are struggling to repay their debts because of the increasing cost of living. IRS head Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khalil presented the survey report at the Peshawar Press Club on September 30. The survey collected data from 462 households in Peshawar and included discussions with different stakeholders. The survey also found that families are reducing their spending on food, healthcare, and education as they struggle to manage their household expenses.
Jirga Held to Promote Peace in Lower Kurram
A jirga of local elders from Lower Kurram was held at the Thal Tehsil Complex under the leadership of Kohat Commissioner Syed Moatasim Billah Shah to discuss local disputes and ways to restore peace in the area. Senior police and district administration officials, including Kohat RPO Irfan Tariq, Kurram Deputy Commissioner Fahad Wazir, DPO Malik Habib Khan, and other officials attended the meeting. Elders from the Watizai and Khwaidad Khel, representatives of Anjuman-e-Farooqia, and other local leaders discussed the situation in Kurram and possible ways to resolve ongoing conflicts. The jirga agreed that local elders would work together with the government, district administration, police, and security agencies to help resolve disputes and maintain peace in the area.
Pakistan Strikes Two Militant Hideouts in Afghanistan
On October 1, 2026, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the Pakistani air force attacked two militant hideouts inside Afghanistan. The ministry said the strikes were “fully planned and calculated.” It called them part of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, which Pakistan says is meant to remove terrorists, their networks and their supporters. Pakistan said the targets were groups it calls “Fitna al-Khawarij” (the TTP) and “Fitna al-Hindustan.” It said the strikes used precise attacks and that it took care to avoid harming civilians. It also said first reports show 22 militants were killed, and that weapons and ammunition stores were destroyed.
In contrast the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least 10 civilians were killed in Pakistani air strikes on Kunar and Helmand provinces on Thursday, with most of the victims being children.
UNAMA said nine other civilians were wounded in the attacks.
(Mashaal Digital) (Al Jazeera) (DW.Com, Afghanistan International)
October 02, 2026
Violence Increases in Pakistan in Third Quarter
Violence in Pakistan increased sharply during the third quarter of the year. The number of people killed in violent incidents was 83 percent higher than in the first and second quarters. According to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the main reason for this increase was a rise in violence in Balochistan, where the number of deaths more than tripled. The report also said that Balochistan recorded more deaths and more violent incidents than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, making it the province most affected by violence during the third quarter.
According to the CRSS report, at least 1,415 people were killed and 558 others were injured in 385 violent incidents during the third quarter of 2026. The incidents included terrorist attacks and security forces’ operations against militants.Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa together recorded 98 percent of all deaths caused by violence in Pakistan during this period.
In Balochistan, 829 people were killed, making up nearly 59 percent of the total deaths in the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 556 people were killed, accounting for more than 39 percent of the national total.
October 04, 2026
Taxes Affect Goods Transport Business in Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The General Secretary of the All-Pakhtunkhwa Goods Transport Federation, along with transport leaders from Swat, Buner, and other districts, said at a press conference in Mingora on October 4 that new taxes have badly affected the goods transport business in Malakand Division since July 2026. They said the government has not yet made a final decision on whether these taxes will be removed. According to the transport leaders, the taxes being collected from truck owners and transport terminals are too high and have negatively affected the transport business.
Naseeb Gul, General Secretary of the All-Pakhtunkhwa Goods Transport Federation, said around 70,000 to 80,000 trucks and heavy vehicles are registered in Malakand Division. He said the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people depend on the transport sector. He also said that more than600 marble factories in Buner and other districts have closed because of the high taxes. According to him, more than 400 vehicles used to transport raw marble to Punjab every day from these factories, but this business has now been badly affected. Naseeb Gul said the high taxes are forcing factories to close, while transporters are unable to carry goods because of increased costs. He added that the new rates have made it difficult for transporters to accept goods for transportation.
October 05, 2026
Political and Security Situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Amid the worsening political and security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the federal government is reportedly considering constitutional measures concerning the province’s current political setup. On October 4, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to discuss the province’s security situation, the ongoing political crisis, and the PTI’s planned “long march” to Islamabad.
According to a statement from the Governor House, the meeting raised concerns that the march could potentially provide an opportunity for militants to bypass security checkpoints. The two officials stated that if the President and Prime Minister consider it necessary to impose Governor’s Rule or a state of emergency to address terrorism and prevent further deterioration of the provincial situation, the Governor House would perform its constitutional role.
PTI Warns against Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Speaking to reporters in Qambar, Swat, on October 5, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called on the federal government to stop interfering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s affairs. He said that although the provincial government is led by PTI, the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police receive instructions from the federal government. He questioned how peace could be established in the province under such circumstances. Barrister Gohar warned that imposing Governor’s Rule or a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in response to the PTI’s planned “long march” would, in his view, create widespread political instability and disorder across the country.
October 06, 2026
Four FBR Officials Killed in Dera Ismail Khan; Five Militants Killed in North Waziristan
Unidentified gunmen killed four Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials at Qureshi Morr in Dera Ismail Khan. In a separate attack near Mufti Mahmud Chowk bypass, gunmen opened fire on a Highway Traffic Police patrol vehicle, killing the officer driving it and injuring another. Meanwhile, security forces claimed to have killed five militants during operations in North Waziristan.
Following the attacks, police cordoned off the affected areas and launched search operations to apprehend the assailants. Investigations into both incidents are underway.
October 07, 2026
Four Policemen Injured in Attack on Police Post in Kohat
Four police personnel were injured in an attack on a police post in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Militants, whom the government designates as “Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” attacked the Shadi Pur police post, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Gambat police station. Police say the attack was repelled. In a press release sent to Mashaal Digital on October 7, police spokesperson Noman Zeb said that officers returned heavy fire, inflicting significant losses on the attackers. According to the spokesperson, four officers were wounded in the exchange of fire. They have been taken to hospital, and their condition is reported to be out of danger.
For several years, the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been among the province’s main security hotspots, owing to terrorism and militant activity. Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, North Waziristan and South Waziristan have been particularly hard hit by militant attacks. Their geographical location, proximity to Afghanistan and the presence of active militant groups are widely seen as key factors shaping the security situation.
(Mashaal Digital) (Pajhwok News)
October 08, 2026
Nine Militants Killed in Intelligence-Based Operations in North Waziristan
Security forces have killed nine militants during intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Pakistan’s state television, the operations were conducted in several areas, including Palongzai, Nadeem Kot and Kot Khizri. The nine slain militants belonged to “Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” and four of them were described as key commanders. “Fitna-ul-Khawarij” is the term the Pakistani government uses for militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
State media reported that several militant hideouts were destroyed during the operations, and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.
