Islamabad (The COW News Digital) Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government agreed to sign a written agreement and submit an implementation plan within 72 hours, but later withdrew from its commitments during the final stage of negotiations.
In a statement on social media platform X, Naqvi said the KP government had initially agreed to several measures aimed at addressing the province’s security situation and strengthening counterterrorism efforts.
According to the interior minister, the provincial government had agreed to review the Police Act 2026 in view of security requirements and adopt a clear position against terrorist organizations operating in the province.
Naqvi said the KP government had also agreed to support the national policy concerning Afghan refugees, including their repatriation and the removal of Afghan refugee camps from the province.
He further stated that the proposed commitments included preventing militants from operating freely or establishing safe havens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The minister said the provincial government had agreed to clearly condemn the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan and other terrorist groups.
According to Naqvi, the KP government had also agreed not to maintain contact with Afghanistan’s interim government and to ensure adequate funding for counterterrorism operations and the provincial police.
He said the discussions also covered full provincial ownership of counterterrorism measures and stronger cooperation with the armed forces.
Naqvi added that the provincial government had agreed that counterterrorism-related decisions concerning the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas and merged districts would be handled as part of the broader security framework.
The interior minister further claimed that the KP government had agreed to implement the National Action Plan as part of efforts to strengthen the province’s response to terrorism.
However, Naqvi said the provincial government backed away from these commitments during the final stage of negotiations.
He argued that security matters should not become a casualty of political differences, particularly at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing serious security challenges.
“Security matters should not be sacrificed for political differences,” Naqvi said, emphasizing the need for cooperation between the federal and provincial governments.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions between the federal government and the KP administration, with security and counterterrorism remaining major points of disagreement.
The alleged commitments cover a wide range of issues, including police reforms, counterterrorism financing, cooperation with security institutions, Afghan refugee policy and implementation of the National Action Plan.
Naqvi’s statement indicates that security-related demands remained a key component of the negotiations and that differences over their implementation contributed to difficulties during the final phase of talks.
The KP government’s position on the claims will be closely watched as political discussions continue. The disagreement also highlights the broader challenge of balancing political negotiations with security concerns in a province facing persistent militant threats.
For now, the dispute over the alleged commitments remains part of the wider political confrontation, while both sides face pressure to address security concerns and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
