Pakistan's struggle against terrorism has often been narrated through the lens of military operations, and rightly so. The Pakistan Army has borne the principal responsibility of confronting insurgent groups seeking to challenge the writ of the state. Yet this is only part of the story. That more than 2,600 police and Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel have laid down their lives in K-P since 1970 is a powerful reminder that the fight against terrorism has never been waged by the military alone.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces, police officers and FC personnel have paid an extraordinary price to preserve the writ of the state. Their sacrifices deserve to occupy a far more prominent place in the national consciousness. What is particularly telling is that the deadliest period for police and FC personnel has coincided with the years following the military's large-scale counterterrorism campaigns. More than 2,400 personnel embraced martyrdom between 2000 and 2026 alone, and 2025 proved to be the bloodiest year on record, claiming 235 lives. Another 150 personnel had already embraced martyrdom by early July this year. Unlike military formations that rotate through operational deployments, police personnel continue to serve within the very communities where terrorist organisations often seek revenge against those who stand in their way. The FC has likewise emerged as an indispensable pillar of Pakistan's internal security architecture. Operating alongside provincial police and the armed forces, it has shouldered an enormous burden in some of the country's most volatile districts.
The story of Pakistan's fight against terrorism is incomplete without acknowledging those who have quietly stood between ordinary citizens and extraordinary violence. Their sacrifices deserve not only remembrance but meaningful recognition through better protection and unwavering national support. A nation that honours its fallen must also fulfil its obligation to those who continue to stand guard.
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