Talal says KP govt undermining counterterrorism for political gain

Islamabad (Web Desk): Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Monday accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of compromising national security for political mileage, saying Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was more focused on point scoring than confronting terrorism.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Talal said the newly elected KP chief minister’s opposition to counterterrorism operations reflected political motives rather than genuine concern for the people’s safety. 

He warned that rejecting military action might benefit the provincial leadership politically but would ultimately cost human lives, for which, he stressed, the KP government would bear full responsibility.

Talal regretted that the sacrifices made by security forces were being trivialised by political rhetoric, adding that the provincial government appeared to be avoiding action against militants to pressure the federal government.

He claimed the PTI-led administration had deliberately chosen not to participate in the fight against terrorism, accusing it of trying to exploit the situation for political advantage.

Referring to Article 148 of the Constitution, he emphasised that no province could make unilateral decisions affecting the rest of the country, asserting that counterterrorism was a national cause that required collective responsibility.

The minister’s comments came after Chief Minister Sohail Afridi blamed the federal government’s “faulty policy” for the rise in terrorist attacks in the province.

During his first high-level meeting since assuming office on October 15, Afridi had criticised the Centre for denying KP funds related to the war on terror and for supplying outdated armoured vehicles to provincial police.

The KP CM demanded that the vehicles be recalled, claiming they were unsafe for use. Afridi, who took over following Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation earlier this month on the instruction of PTI chairman Imran Khan, had also accused the federal government of depriving KP of its constitutional rights.

Responding to those allegations, Talal said the decision to return armoured vehicles was merely a political stunt intended to embarrass the Centre. He sarcastically remarked that if the CM was unhappy with the bulletproof vehicles, he should provide his own instead.

The minister accused the KP leadership of staging “drama” rather than fulfilling its responsibility to protect citizens, adding that provincial police officers were risking their lives without proper resources while their government refused to cooperate.

Talal further suggested that the recent appointment of Afridi as chief minister was a calculated move to install a leader willing to prioritise his party’s political agenda over matters of national security.

He reiterated that the federal government continued to act against militants under the National Action Plan, even though it had decided against launching a new large-scale military offensive.