Zakhakhel tribesmen on 7 June blocked the main highway leading to the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), announcing they would arm volunteers for self-defence patrols after two men were killed in a targeted attack in the Sultan Khel area of Landi Kotal. The protest, which drew political party activists, civil society members, and tribesmen, also brought vehicle movement to a halt and stranded Afghan nationals awaiting deportation, according to Pakistani daily Dawn.

What the Protesters Demanded

Demonstrators announced a series of sweeping measures, including a complete ban on motorcycle riding and a directive barring all Zakhakhel government employees from performing official duties until a durable peace solution was in place. Protesters also called for a boycott of polio vaccination campaigns and the shutdown of all government and private schools in the Zakhakhel area.

They declared they would refuse to meet any government official until a meaningful crackdown was launched against suspected militants reportedly sheltering in Mazreena and surrounding areas. Notably, they also advised local police personnel to avoid wearing uniforms to reduce the risk of being targeted — a sign of how deeply insecurity has penetrated civilian and law-enforcement life in the region. A fine of PKR 1 million was announced for anyone found spying for outlawed militant groups or law enforcement agencies.

The Incident That Triggered the Protest

The demonstration followed the killing of two men by armed assailants riding motorcycles in the Sultan Khel area of Landi Kotal on Friday evening. According to police, the attackers shot the victims in front of their house before fleeing the scene. In a separate but related incident in the same area, unidentified armed men also targeted two policemen and a teenage relative of a police officer.

The road blockade also disrupted the deportation of Afghan families, leaving multiple vehicles carrying Afghan nationals stranded along the highway, according to reports.

Pakistan's Worsening Security Picture in May

The tribal unrest comes against a sharply deteriorating national security backdrop. A monthly assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) found that terrorist attacks across Pakistan surged in May, reversing a brief period of relative decline.

According to the PICSS report, 128 terrorist attacks were recorded in May, up from 101 in April — a 27% rise. Civilian fatalities climbed from 37 to 71, a 92% increase, while security personnel deaths rose from 28 to 68, a 143% jump. A total of 147 people were injured, including 35 security personnel and 3 peace committee members. Pakistan also recorded six suicide attacks in May, killing 34 security personnel and 9 civilians.

Balochistan Bears the Heaviest Toll

Balochistan emerged as the most affected province in May, recording 71 terrorist attacks compared to 34 in April — a 109% rise. Of the 54 kidnappings documented across Pakistan in May, 52 took place in Balochistan alone, underscoring the province's acute vulnerability. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also recorded a sharp increase in attacks, with the Torkham corridor — a critical artery for trade and Afghan transit — now at the centre of tribal discontent.

With the road blockade continuing until arrests are made and the PICSS data pointing to an accelerating threat environment, pressure on Pakistan's security establishment to deliver visible results in KP and Balochistan is set to intensify.