The federal minister says the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is not fully cooperating with the Centre on counterterrorism efforts and warns that an emergency option is being considered.
ISLAMABAD – Web Desk: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of not cooperating with the federal government in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Parliament House on Monday, Chaudhry alleged that the PTI-led provincial government’s disengagement from counterterrorism efforts was causing losses to the national campaign against militancy. He also accused the provincial administration of not adequately supporting state institutions.
The minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was not cooperating with efforts aimed at preventing terrorism. He also claimed that Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were following Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan, while KP was taking a different approach. These are the federal minister’s assertions and have not been independently established as fact.
Federal government considers emergency option
Chaudhry said the federal government was considering an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because of the security situation.
The possibility of federal intervention has been under discussion amid continuing militant attacks and a growing dispute between Islamabad and the PTI-led provincial government over responsibility for counterterrorism operations. The government had previously said it was considering constitutional options in response to the deteriorating security situation.
The question of possible intervention has also become intertwined with the political dispute between the federal government and PTI.
Government-PTI talks end in deadlock
The latest accusations come shortly after government-opposition negotiations aimed at preventing PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad ended without an agreement.
According to the government’s account, the talks broke down after the KP government allegedly backed away from commitments relating to counterterrorism cooperation, Afghanistan policy and support for security operations.
PTI has disputed that account, saying the federal government’s insistence that the provincial government take ownership of anti-terrorism measures contributed to the failure of negotiations.
The disagreement over counterterrorism cooperation has therefore become one of the central issues in the broader political confrontation.
PTI rejects government’s position
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has said the party’s position is that counterterrorism operations in KP should be based on consultation between the federal and provincial governments and should have support from political parties and local communities.
The competing positions have deepened tensions between Islamabad and Peshawar at a time when the province is facing persistent security challenges.
Security situation remains a major concern
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced continued militant violence, particularly in areas close to the Afghan border.
Recent government data reported by Geo News showed that KP had received Rs799.359 billion under the War on Terror fund from 2010-11 through September 2026, including additional allocations in recent financial years.
Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has separately argued that the dispute between the presidency and KP is fundamentally a security issue rather than simply a political disagreement. He has cited government figures on terrorism incidents and casualties in the province, while also raising concerns about governance and the use of funds.
March towards Islamabad continues
The dispute is unfolding as PTI supporters continue their political mobilisation towards Islamabad following the collapse of talks.
The federal government has warned that the march will not be permitted to enter Islamabad, according to Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
With political negotiations stalled and disagreements over counterterrorism policy unresolved, tensions between the federal and KP governments are expected to remain high.
