PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the federal government’s insistence on carrying out anti‑terror operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without provincial consent caused the recent security talks to collapse.
The talks, initiated by the Interior Ministry to forge a joint counter‑terrorism strategy, fell apart after federal officials refused to acknowledge the province’s demand for a collaborative approach. Federal Minister Rana Muhammad Abdul Sattar Naqvi publicly blamed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister, Sohail Afridi, of sabotaging the negotiations, alleging that the provincial leadership was obstructing decisive action against militant groups operating in the region.
In response, Raja argued that the federal stance ignored the long‑standing authority of tribal jirgas, whose wisdom and consensus have traditionally guided security decisions in the tribal belt. He insisted that any anti‑terror measures must incorporate the insights of local notables and respect the province’s constitutional autonomy, warning that sidelining these mechanisms risks alienating the very communities the operations aim to protect.
The federal government, citing a recent spate of attacks on security convoys and civilian targets in the Khyber Pass corridor, maintains that swift, centrally coordinated operations are essential to prevent further loss of life. Naqvi’s accusation against Afridi reflects a broader tension between Islamabad’s drive for rapid response and KP’s call for provincial input, a dynamic that has resurfaced repeatedly since the 2022 peace‑process talks with the Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan.
Political analysts warn that the breakdown could deepen mistrust between the centre and the province, complicating efforts to stabilize the border districts ahead of the upcoming provincial elections. PTI has urged the federal cabinet to reopen dialogue, emphasizing a joint framework that blends federal resources with provincial and tribal expertise to ensure sustainable security outcomes for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.