Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry sharply criticised the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over the province’s security situation, accusing it of failing to take effective action against terrorism and alleging links between militant activity and networks operating from Afghanistan.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, Tarar alleged that PTI had become the “B-team” of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Chaudhry claimed that 70% of terrorists involved in attacks in Pakistan were residents of Afghanistan. The allegations were made by the ministers as part of a broader criticism of the KP government’s counterterrorism policies.
Tarar alleged that the PTI government had supported or facilitated terrorists during its more than 12.5 years in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the provincial government had no intention of taking meaningful measures against terrorism and described its intentions and attitude as “malicious” and problematic.
The information minister also alleged that PTI had avoided condemning militant groups and claimed that terrorists had targeted political parties across KP while appearing to spare PTI. Similar accusations were made by Tarar in recent remarks, in which he described PTI as the TTP’s “B-team” and the Afghan Taliban’s “C-team”.
Tarar said the PTI-led provincial government was facilitating terrorists and alleged that terrorism was being financed through illegal activities, including gold mining, timber and tobacco trade. He also accused political figures of benefiting from illegal mining and contracts.
He further alleged that the PTI leadership had left the KP Police at the mercy of terrorists and had failed to provide adequate resources to law-enforcement agencies. He said the provincial government had not stood behind security forces during attacks.
Afghan link to terrorism alleged
Chaudhry said Afghan nationals were involved in 70% of terrorism occurring in Pakistan and questioned why the KP government did not openly condemn attacks originating from across the border.
He specifically questioned why KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had not explicitly named Afghanistan, saying the chief minister had visited Dera Ismail Khan after a recent attack but still refrained from doing so.
Chaudhry alleged that terrorist groups operating in Pakistan originated from Afghanistan and said most militant groups involved in attacks over the past two-and-a-half to three years had come from there. He said the government had made repeated attempts to engage Afghan officials, but alleged that the neighbouring country had been unwilling to change its approach.
Ministers discuss DI Khan attack
Chaudhry referred to the terrorist attack at Aman Mela checkpost in a DI Khan, saying women and children were among those martyred. He said terrorists had also targeted rescue personnel and described the attacks as part of efforts to destabilise Pakistan.
The minister displayed photographs and details of alleged terrorists during the press conference. He said authorities checked photographs of the militants against NADRA and other systems but found no identity records.
According to Chaudhry, information obtained through open sources later indicated that one of the individuals was a resident of Kabul. He said militants often operated under aliases and alleged that they carried out terrorist activities in exchange for dollars.
Chaudhry said the terrorists later released photographs of their operatives on social media. He said the government was taking action against such networks and described Afghanistan as a “super proxy” in the matter.
Questions raised over KP security resources
Chaudhry accused the KP government of failing to provide adequate leadership and resources to security forces despite the province’s prolonged fight against terrorism.
He alleged that the political leadership of KP had not stood behind security forces for the past 14 years and claimed the provincial government had failed to provide the resources needed by law-enforcement agencies.
He said security forces in KP had not been provided with sufficient facilities and questioned the use of funds allocated for counterterrorism. The federal government, he said, had demanded an account of Rs800 billion from the province.
Chaudhry also criticised the return of bulletproof vehicles provided to KP, alleging that the vehicles were returned for political point-scoring. He said the federal government had offered modern vehicles for the KP Police but alleged that the provincial government refused to accept them.
He also criticised an amendment to the KP Police Act, claiming that it sought to weaken the authority and command structure of the provincial police. The proposed police legislation has separately drawn criticism from the federal government over concerns about political influence over appointments, transfers and postings.
Ministers criticise absence from security meetings
Chaudhry alleged that KP officials attended meetings to demand the province’s share of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award but did not attend counterterrorism meetings. He said the 14-point National Action Plan was agreed upon unanimously and described it as a consensus document that should not be undermined for political purposes.
The minister also said everyone concerned had visited the victims of the D.I. Khan incident, while protesters did not. He criticised the provincial government for what he described as an ambiguous political position and a soft attitude towards terrorists.
Illegal vehicles and terrorism allegations
Tarar also questioned why non-custom-paid vehicles were operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and alleged that such vehicles were being used in terrorist activities. He said even motorcycles in the province often lacked number plates and accused the PTI-led government of deliberately failing to bring non-custom-paid vehicles within the legal framework.
The information minister linked the issue to the wider security situation, alleging that vehicles operating outside the legal system could be used in terrorist activities.
Tarar also criticised the KP government’s performance in healthcare, asking what measures had been taken to improve medical services after more than 12-and-a-half years of PTI governance. He claimed that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being forced to travel to other provinces for basic medical treatment and other essential services because of what he described as poor provincial governance.
He contrasted the performance of the KP and Balochistan governments, calling Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti brave and capable and saying there was a significant difference between the two provincial administrations.
Tarar also criticised the political leadership over the issue of Imran Khan’s health, saying politics was being played around the founding leader’s health. He separately questioned the political role and record of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying he had failed administratively and politically.
Govt says terrorism will be eliminated
Tarar said the federal government remained firmly committed to eliminating terrorism and said political considerations should not come before national security.
“Enough is enough,” Tarar said in remarks criticising the KP government, while also telling Sohail Afridi to put politics aside in dealing with terrorism.
The information minister said the situation had reached a breaking point and questioned the KP government’s approach to security. He also said the PTI leadership had failed to provide adequate support to the provincial police.
Chaudhry similarly said Pakistan was facing a serious security challenge and argued that the KP government’s alleged lack of resources, leadership and participation in security meetings was contributing to the situation.
Islamabad routes remain open
Chaudhry also addressed concerns about movement towards Islamabad, saying all 125 routes leading into and out of the capital were open. He said the government remained in contact with container owners and that no one had complained about the situation. He maintained that any security measures would be taken in accordance with the law and court orders.
The ministers’ remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between the federal government and the PTI-led KP administration over counterterrorism, police powers, provincial resources and the response to militant attacks. Recent federal statements have similarly accused the KP government of an evasive approach towards law and order, while the provincial side has continued to reject the federal government’s criticism.
