Pakistan Declares Emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Rising Terrorism Concerns

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the federal government had spent more than a month trying to bring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on board for joint efforts against terrorism. He said he had remained in personal contact with the provincial administration and held several meetings with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, focusing on counterterrorism rather than politics. Naqvi claimed that the government had proposed starting operations in five districts and offered financial assistance if required. He added that during negotiations, PTI had agreed to the imposition of an emergency in 12 districts. However, he said efforts to reach an understanding ultimately failed despite repeated invitations to PTI leaders to suggest changes to the proposed draft.

Naqvi said terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had increased by 195 percent over the previous 18 months, while fatalities had risen by 113 percent over 31 months, with 518 police personnel killed during that period. He stressed that the federal government’s primary objective had been to secure provincial cooperation in combating militancy. He also said that efforts to engage JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not produced a breakthrough. Naqvi clarified that postponing PTI’s sit-in had been the Pakistan Peoples Party’s position, not his government’s, adding that the federal government had repeatedly said it had no objection to the protest itself.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused PTI of failing to take terrorism seriously and alleged that the provincial administration had deteriorated to a critical level. He further alleged links between PTI and militant groups, claiming that even police stations in parts of the province had been handed over to the Taliban. The federal government maintains that the emergency measures are intended to address the worsening security situation and strengthen counterterrorism coordination.