SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The district administration and police on Thursday temporarily closed and evacuated Wana’s Rustam Bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan, suspending commercial activities in the area as a precautionary measure after receiving credible information related to security threats.
According to police officials, all shopkeepers and civilians present in the market were instructed to immediately leave the area, while business activities were completely halted as soon as information related to the potential threats was received.
District Police Officer (DPO) South Waziristan Lower, Muhammad Tahir Shah, said that the law enforcement agencies had acted promptly upon receiving threat alerts.
“Based on intelligence inputs regarding possible security risks, it was decided to temporarily shut down Wana Rustam Bazaar,” he stated, adding that adjoining areas were also cleared as part of the security plan.
The DPO further said that additional contingents of police and security forces had been deployed in the area to maintain strict control over the situation.
All forms of movement within the bazaar were temporarily restricted, and checkpoints were placed on entry and exit routes to prevent unauthorised access.
“Traders and residents cooperated fully with the administration and law enforcement agencies by vacating the market without resistance,” the DPO added.
He appealed to citizens and the trader community to continue following police and administrative directives and to avoid visiting sensitive areas unnecessarily until the situation was declared safe.
Following the closure of the market, police launched a comprehensive search operation in the area. Officials said that bomb disposal squads were engaged in checking suspected locations, while surveillance was tightened at all internal and external access points, and the area remained under close monitoring.
Police said the security situation was being reviewed continuously and that the decision to reopen the bazaar would be taken only after “complete clearance and elimination of potential threats”.
“Public safety is our top priority, and no compromise will be made in this regard,” a police official said.
The country has seen a surge in terrorism since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire deal with the government in November 2022, vowing to increase attacks. Islamabad says that the group has since been using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
The law and order situation in both North and South Waziristan has particularly deteriorated, with police reporting a noticeable increase in terrorist attacks, such as bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on police and security forces’ checkposts.
These incidents have posed serious challenges to law enforcement agencies and created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among the local population. Residents say that recurring incidents have severely disrupted daily life and heightened concerns about personal safety.
Traders and residents have expressed concern over the frequent suspension of business activities due to security alerts. They say repeated closures of markets have resulted in financial losses and added to economic hardships.
Other social activities have also been adversely affected, further compounding difficulties for the local population.
Residents have urged the government and security agencies to adopt effective and sustainable measures to restore lasting peace in the region. They stressed that improved security was essential not only for public safety but also for economic stability and normalcy in daily life.
Meanwhile, police and district administration officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring the protection of citizens. They emphasised that all available resources were being utilised to counter potential threats and maintain peace.
Authorities also appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement agencies and to refrain from spreading rumours, which could create unnecessary panic.
Police officials maintained that public cooperation remained vital for improving the security situation and restoring confidence in the region.
According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), comparative data for 2024 and 2025 reveal a sharp escalation in terrorism and counter-terrorism-linked violence nationwide, with fatalities rising from 2,555 in 2024 to 3,417 in 2025, marking an increase of 862 deaths, or a roughly 34 per cent year-on-year surge in violence.
Per the report, “the most significant surge in violence was recorded in KP, where the fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, an absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for over 82pc of the net national rise and marking almost a 44pc year-on-year surge in violence in the province.”
