The Pakistani military has imposed an indefinite curfew in the Shakai Valley of Lower South Waziristan and the Ladha Tehsil of Upper South Waziristan, citing a surge in militant activity, according to local media reports.
The curfew, which took effect Saturday, was announced in a notification from the office of Nasir Khan, deputy commissioner of Lower South Waziristan. The decision was attributed to the deteriorating security situation in the region over recent days.
Khan urged residents of Shakai to remain indoors and cooperate with security forces. The notification followed escalating tensions in the area, with multiple reports of targeted killings in North Waziristan fueling fears of growing unrest.
Activists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have repeatedly raised concerns over these killings, alleging that high-profile figures in the region have been targeted without adequate investigation by authorities. Some activists have even accused the Pakistani military of neglecting its duty to address the violence.
The curfew follows a recent militant attack on Frontier Corps vehicles on Sara Pul Road in Shakai Tehsil on Thursday. Security forces responded to the assault with mortars and artillery fire, underscoring the volatile situation in the region.
South Waziristan, once a stronghold of militant groups, has seen an uptick in violence in recent months, with incidents such as targeted killings and attacks on security personnel contributing to growing instability. The military’s movement into the area aims to suppress these threats and restore order, though residents remain on edge amid the indefinite restrictions.
