PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Political tensions between the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government intensified on Monday as Chief Minister Sohail Afridi defended his administration’s counterterrorism record, while federal ministers criticised the provincial government’s handling of the security situation and warned that constitutional measures, including governor’s rule or an emergency, could be considered if required.
Addressing a law-and-order meeting in Peshawar, CM Afridi again called for a change in what he described as the state’s “failed policy of 22 years”, arguing that providing additional resources to police alone would not resolve the security crisis without a policy shift.
Afridi said the bloodshed in KP would continue unless all stakeholders were taken into confidence while formulating a new counterterrorism policy. He maintained that the provincial government, administration and police should all be part of the process.
The PTI leader claimed that peace could be restored in KP within 100 days if his proposed policy was implemented, but alleged that federal authorities were unwilling to listen to the province’s concerns.
Afridi also defended his government’s performance, saying Rs35 billion had been diverted from the development budget to the police, effectively doubling its allocation. He added that the Special Branch was being strengthened and modern weapons and essential equipment were being supplied to the police.
The chief minister also criticised what he called a “dual-standard policy” towards KP and questioned recent remarks attributed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz concerning security threats from other provinces.
Meanwhile, federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said governor’s rule or an emergency could be imposed if the constitutional conditions for such measures were met.
“If such conditions, where the Constitution demands governor’s rule to be implemented or an emergency declared, are there or they arise, it can and will definitely happen,” Tarar said in a media interview.
Kashmir Affairs and Frontier Regions Minister Amir Muqam, speaking in Peshawar, also criticised the KP government and said the legal conditions for governor’s rule existed. He further warned CM Afridi that his tenure would not continue and alleged corruption and poor governance in the province.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi separately held talks with Muqam and other political representatives on the worsening security situation and political developments. Kundi urged the provincial government to postpone its planned October 4 long march and bring political parties and other stakeholders together to discuss peace and counterterrorism.
The PML-N’s KP chapter meanwhile issued a white paper criticising the provincial government’s performance. According to the document and statements by its leaders, more than Rs800 billion had been provided to KP for counterterrorism efforts, but the provincial government had failed to adequately equip the police and CTD with modern weapons and equipment.
The PML-N leaders claimed that the KP CTD had only nine M4 rifles and 11 night-vision devices for the entire province. They also alleged that the number of police personnel killed and wounded had risen sharply and that terrorist attacks had increased during 2026 compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
Afridi rejected the allegations, asserting that the KP Police and CTD were capable and equipped with modern weapons. He also alleged that Heavy Industries Taxila was delaying supplies despite payments made by the provincial government.
Federal Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry accused the PTI-led provincial government of failing to provide adequate leadership, resources and authority to security forces. He questioned the allocation of counterterrorism funds and criticised the condition of CTD, bulletproof vehicles, training, Safe City projects and forensic facilities in the province.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also criticised the PTI and alleged that the party had failed to take ownership of the fight against terrorism. He further accused the provincial government of adopting an unclear position on Afghanistan and militant groups.
The PTI rejected the federal ministers’ allegations and called for the federal and Punjab governments to be held accountable instead of blaming KP. The party said the people of KP, police, security personnel and political workers had made major sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and urged the federal government to cooperate with the province rather than engage in political accusations.
The federal government also reiterated its concerns over alleged militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Tallal Chaudhry said Islamabad had repeatedly raised the issue with Kabul through dialogue, dossiers and international forums.
The latest exchange comes amid renewed Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions following a series of militant attacks and alleged cross-border drone incidents. Pakistan has said it carried out strikes against militant targets in Afghanistan in response to attacks, while the Foreign Office has also lodged a protest over an alleged violation of Pakistani airspace by drones.
