Levies and Khasadar security personnel (paramilitary forces historically used in Pakistan's former tribal belt) in the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced a boycott of an upcoming three-day polio vaccination campaign set to begin on 21 September, citing the government's failure to fulfil commitments on pay, promotions, and pensions. The protest, declared at a sit-in near the historic Bab-i-Khyber gate, includes a Rs25 million fine on any personnel who defy the boycott, as well as a suspension of FIR registrations and daily police diary entries at local stations. The action raises serious concerns for one of the world's most critical polio eradication efforts, as the merged districts — bordering Afghanistan — remain among the most challenging areas for vaccination access.