June 10, 2026
By Islam Gul Afridi
LANDI KOTAL
A protest sit-in by the local population on the Pak-Afghan Highway against target killings and lawlessness in Landi Kotal tehsil of Khyber District, near the Pak-Afghan border, has been ongoing for the past one week. The protest began when two people, including a security official, were killed by gunfire from unidentified armed individuals. Local residents, area elders, and political leaders are participating in large numbers, and attendance at the protest camp remains strong despite intense heat.
History of lawlessness and public outrage
According to local leader Haji Shakir Afridi, sixteen people — including local journalist Khalil Jibran — have been killed in target killing incidents in the area over the past two years, while two others were injured. It is worth noting that journalist Khalil Jibran was also killed in this same area in June 2024. According to Haji Shakir, protest sit-ins have been called off repeatedly after government assurances following each incident, but practical measures were never taken, which has spread deep uncertainty among the public.
Malik Abdullah Khan Afridi said that negotiations with the government are a waste of time, as all past promises proved fruitless and the security situation continued to deteriorate. He also stated that land was seized for checkposts, but neither was the land returned nor was peace established. He raised the question of why the government is failing to restore peace in a small area like Landi Kotal.
Educational institutions closed, polio campaign boycotted
As an expression of protest, all government and private educational institutions in Landi Kotal have been closed since last Monday. According to the Education Department, fifteen boys’ and twelve girls’ government schools, along with a large number of private schools, are closed. Additionally, a ban has been imposed on motorcycle riding by unrelated individuals. The protest committee has announced a boycott of the polio vaccination campaign in the area.
Haji Shakir Afridi clarified that the people of Landi Kotal are not against accessing education and health facilities, but this step has been taken out of extreme compulsion. He said that when educated young people obtain government employment, unknown individuals kill them — so what is the benefit of education and health facilities? He stated that the purpose of these measures is to send a message to the government and public that the residents here are living in extremely insecure and difficult conditions.
Appeal to armed groups
The sit-in leaders have also appealed to members of armed groups to abandon the path of violence. According to Haji Shakir Afridi, the identities of armed individuals and their families are well known within the local population, so their families must also fulfill their responsibility. Malik Abrar said that a few armed individuals are hiding in the mountains and targeting people in front of their homes, spreading fear and terror throughout the area. He also demanded from ordinary people that if any member of their family has joined an armed group, they should be brought back home so that this cycle of lawlessness can be stopped.
Negotiations with security authorities
The sit-in’s 25-member committee met with senior security forces officials in Landi Kotal, with talks continuing until late at night, however no results have emerged. The leaders warned that if no positive progress is made in negotiations, the next phase of protest will be far more severe than current measures, though they did not elaborate on the details. Protest participants demand that the sit-in will continue until concrete and practical steps are taken to establish peace in the area.
Issue of stranded vehicles
Along with the lawlessness, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been suspended for the past eight months due to strained relations, which has led to a significant rise in unemployment in the area. Prior to the current sit-in, local transporters were also protesting for the return of eight hundred vehicles stranded in Afghanistan.
In this regard, an important meeting was held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Commissioner Riaz Mehsood, attended by elders of Landi Kotal, transporters, representatives of the Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association, and relevant officials from both countries. Through mutual consultation, a workable mechanism was agreed upon, under which stranded Pakistani vehicles in Afghanistan will be permitted to cross the Torkham border in phases daily from morning until 2:00 PM starting June 11, while after 2:00 PM the repatriation of Afghan refugees will continue as normal.
Local elders and transporters welcomed this decision, calling it a positive step toward the resumption of trade activities and mutual confidence-building. They expressed hope that this measure will not only ease the difficulties faced by transporters but also promote cross-border trade. Meeting participants also emphasized resolving such issues through dialogue and mutual understanding in the future.