Peshawar, September 28, 2026: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday criticised the federal government’s counterterrorism policy, saying a change in approach was needed to address the province’s security challenges, as federal ministers accused the PTI-led provincial government of failing to provide adequate leadership and resources to security forces.
Afridi made the remarks while chairing a meeting on law and order in Peshawar, hours after Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the KP government during a press conference in Islamabad.
The chief minister said providing additional resources to the police alone would not resolve the problem without a policy shift.
“We repeatedly stated that the state’s current policy was flawed. The blood of our Pakhtuns will flow again,” Afridi said, alleging that federal ministers had dismissed the provincial government’s warnings as “propaganda and lies”.
He said he had consistently called for a change in what he described as the “failed policy of 22 years”.
Addressing the press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry said political leadership had three key responsibilities in counterterrorism efforts: providing leadership, resources and authority.
He alleged that the PTI-led provincial government had failed to provide adequate leadership to security forces during its years in power.
“If Pakistan is burning in the fire of terrorism, it is because of KP’s incompetent leadership,” Chaudhry said, according to remarks reported by local media.
The minister questioned how counterterrorism resources allocated to KP under the National Finance Commission Award had been utilised. He also criticised the condition of the provincial Counter-Terrorism Department, police equipment and other security infrastructure.
Chaudhry claimed that the KP police lacked sufficient bulletproof vehicles, training and other resources, and questioned why the provincial government had not allocated adequate funds for counterterrorism.
He also criticised the recently proposed KP Police Act, alleging that it would curtail the powers of the provincial inspector general.
On PTI’s complaints about not being included in discussions on the security situation, Chaudhry said the party had been invited to meetings but its representatives had not attended.
Tarar accused the PTI-led KP government of failing to take ownership of counterterrorism operations in the province and repeated his allegation that the party had facilitated militants.
He described PTI as the “B team” of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an allegation rejected by PTI. Tarar also accused the provincial government of failing to condemn recent cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.
The information minister questioned the use of counterterrorism-related funds and said the provincial government had not brought all non-customs-paid vehicles into the legal framework, arguing that vehicle registration would assist law-enforcement agencies in monitoring suspected militants.
Tarar also criticised the provincial government over an incident in which Afghan nationals allegedly failed to stand for the national anthem at a ceremony. The incident occurred in September 2024, when Ali Amin Gandapur was serving as KP chief minister.
Chaudhry also criticised what he described as a “soft” approach by the KP leadership towards Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups based in Afghanistan, particularly the TTP, of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has called on the Taliban administration to prevent militant activity from Afghan territory, while Kabul has rejected allegations that it allows its territory to be used against Pakistan.
Chaudhry said Islamabad had raised its concerns with Kabul through diplomatic channels, dossiers and international forums.
Referring to attacks on rescue teams following recent terrorist incidents, he condemned the targeting of emergency responders and questioned the justification of such attacks.
He also said Pakistani authorities had extensive databases and other investigative tools to establish the identities and movements of suspects.
Separately, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged PTI to postpone its planned long march towards Islamabad, currently scheduled to depart from Peshawar on October 4.
Kundi said the province was facing a serious security situation and called on political parties and other stakeholders to sit together and develop a joint strategy for restoring peace.
The governor said the prevailing law and order situation did not warrant a march on Islamabad and urged the provincial government to focus on counterterrorism efforts.
The PTI had earlier postponed its planned September 27 march to October 4. KP Chief Minister Afridi announced the revised date after a meeting of the party’s political committee.
Kundi also commented on speculation about governor’s rule in KP, saying constitutional provisions existed for such a step and that the matter could be considered if the federal government deemed it necessary.
The exchange comes amid heightened security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and growing political disagreement between the federal and provincial governments over responsibility for counterterrorism, relations with Afghanistan and the province’s security policy.
