Naqvi Says KP Government Backed Out of Security Commitments During Final Talks

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa backed out of its security and counterterrorism commitments during the final stage of negotiations with the federal government.

In a post on X, Naqvi said the KP government had agreed to sign a written agreement and submit an implementation plan within 72 hours covering security and counterterrorism measures.

According to the interior minister, the provincial government had also agreed to reconsider the Police Act 2026 in view of the security situation and to keep security matters free from political interference.

He said the KP government had agreed to take measures to prevent terrorists from operating freely or establishing safe havens in the province.

Naqvi said the provincial government had also agreed to clearly condemn the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and all other terrorist groups.

According to the minister, the KP government had agreed to support the national policy on Afghan refugees, including their repatriation and the dismantling of Afghan camps in the province.

He said the provincial government had also agreed not to maintain contact with the Afghan Taliban government, provide substantial funding for counterterrorism operations and police, take full ownership of counterterrorism measures and strengthen cooperation with the armed forces.

The interior minister said the KP government had further agreed to take decisions on counterterrorism in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas and merged districts and implement the National Action Plan.

“Last night, during the final phase of negotiations, the KP Government backed out of these commitments,” Naqvi said.

He stressed that security matters should not be politicised, particularly while the province is facing a serious security situation.

Government-PTI Talks End Without Agreement

The federal government and PTI held two rounds of negotiations on Friday and Saturday in an effort to prevent the party’s planned long march towards Islamabad. However, the talks ended without an agreement.

Key differences remained over access to jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and military operations in sensitive areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said the two sides could not reach agreement on the basic issues under discussion, while Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said differences remained over a meeting with Imran Khan and access to his personal doctor.

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman said the draft agreement had been revised several times, but stressed that there could be no compromise on counterterrorism.

The deadlock came after a member of the negotiating committee had said that the government and opposition had agreed on around 95% of the issues and expected to resolve the remaining points during the night.

KP Chief Minister Announces Long March

Following the failure of the talks, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the start of PTI’s long march towards Islamabad.

Afridi said the first phase would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm on Sunday, with participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat joining the convoy.

Separately, Afridi shared the list of demands submitted to the negotiating team, saying the draft contained no unconstitutional or illegal demands.

The demands included a formal meeting between the prime minister and opposition leaders in both houses of parliament to discuss political, national, constitutional, legal and democratic matters.

The KP chief minister also proposed a joint negotiation committee comprising representatives of the government alliance, PPP and opposition parties.

On prisoners’ rights, Afridi called for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to receive their rights under jail rules and applicable laws, including legal, humanitarian and medical rights.

He also called for unnecessary delays in cases involving women, elderly and sick prisoners to be ended and sought the release of political prisoners, including Yasmin Rashid and Bushra Bibi, on humanitarian grounds.

Afridi said political and national matters should be resolved through consultation and negotiations and called for guarantees for democracy, politics, the judiciary and press freedom.

He said PTI would cancel the long march if the federal government provided written assurances on its demands.

Responding to the draft, Naqvi said it was circulated around midnight in what he described as an attempt to derail the draft already agreed upon by both sides.

He said the negotiating teams had instead finalised a separate draft with the government, along with a KP terrorism-related implementation plan.