Tarar Accuses PTI of Failing to Tackle Terrorism in KP

Briefing foreign representatives, the information minister said the federal government had made several attempts to reach an agreement with the PTI and the provincial government through negotiations on coordinated measures against terrorism. He maintained that the federal government’s sole objective was to establish a united, non-political national policy to combat militancy.

According to Tarar, the PTI could have continued its political march and pursued its other political demands while cooperating with the federal government on counterterrorism. However, he alleged that an agreement reached during negotiations was subsequently rejected by the provincial chief minister, preventing the implementation of a coordinated strategy.

The minister argued that the country could not pursue conflicting approaches to terrorism, particularly when the federal government was engaged in diplomatic efforts concerning Afghanistan. He said Pakistan wanted the interim Afghan government to dismantle terrorist safe havens and take credible measures to prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks inside Pakistan.

Tarar questioned how different policies on terrorism could operate within the same country and said the federal government had sought a unified approach to address the security threat.

Constitutional Measures and Security Concerns

The information minister defended the federal government’s recent measures concerning 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the relevant provisions of the 1973 Constitution had been incorporated to address extraordinary circumstances.

He claimed that the province’s administrative system had become dysfunctional and the law and order situation had deteriorated significantly. He further alleged that credible information suggested political representatives from other parties faced restrictions on travelling safely through certain areas affected by militant activity.

Tarar also questioned the circumstances surrounding PTI’s political march through some of these districts, alleging that arrangements had been made with militant groups to allow the march to pass safely. These allegations were presented as the minister’s claims during the briefing.

He said the federal government had repeatedly attempted to persuade the provincial leadership through dialogue and negotiations to adopt an effective counterterrorism strategy.

Rs800 Billion in Transfers to KP Government

Raising questions about the allocation of provincial resources, Tarar said approximately Rs800 billion had been transferred to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through the National Finance Commission (NFC) mechanism.

He questioned why, despite these funds, sufficient resources had allegedly not been allocated to strengthen the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), install Safe City surveillance cameras, establish forensic laboratories, procure modern police equipment and develop an effective public narrative against violent extremism.

The minister also criticised the alleged failure to register vehicles and motorcycles, arguing that a functioning registration system could help law enforcement agencies monitor movement and trace vehicles potentially used in terrorist attacks.

He alleged that weak oversight had allowed illegal trade and cross-border smuggling to continue in sectors including mining, minerals, timber, tobacco, gold and precious stones. He further claimed that militant groups benefited from the resulting administrative weaknesses.

Tarar said he had recently visited Kohat, where a terrorist incident had occurred, and met injured victims in hospital as well as the families of those killed. He maintained that people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted terrorism to end despite the suffering and economic disruption it had caused.

Minister Cites Rise in Terrorism and Casualties

During the briefing, Tarar presented figures that he said demonstrated a sharp increase in terrorist incidents and fatalities in recent years.

According to the figures cited by the minister, Pakistan recorded 3,774 terrorist incidents in 2025, while 2,857 incidents had been reported by September 2026. He also referred to 6,924 terrorism-related cases registered over the preceding five years.

Tarar said terrorism-related deaths had increased substantially, citing 267 fatalities in 2021, 3,512 in 2025 and 2,775 in 2026. The figures for 2026 were presented as part of his briefing, although the precise reporting period and methodology behind the annual comparisons were not clarified in the supplied account.

He also cited an increase in attacks targeting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, saying police personnel had borne a particularly heavy burden in the fight against terrorism. The minister referred to 1,532 police fatalities, 1,364 major terrorist attacks and attacks on 18 police installations over the previous two years.

He further claimed that the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had increased by 30 per cent, while inadequate controls on explosives and unregistered vehicles had complicated counterterrorism operations.

Tarar criticised the PTI provincial government for allegedly failing to provide the police with sufficient resources and authority to respond effectively to militant threats.

Allegations of Links Between Politics, Crime and Militancy

The information minister alleged that a nexus between politics, terrorism and organised crime had developed in parts of the province. He claimed that the provincial administration had failed to take adequate action against militant groups and that, on several occasions, expressions of sympathy towards terrorists had emerged from provincial political circles.

He also questioned the provincial government’s participation in high-level meetings convened under the National Action Plan, arguing that counterterrorism required coordination between federal and provincial authorities.

Tarar rejected the ideological outlook promoted by the Taliban, saying it was incompatible with the principles of Islam and included restrictions on women’s right to education. He argued that any government responsible for protecting citizens could not allow militant groups to undermine public safety and fundamental rights.

The minister’s allegations concerning political links with militant groups and the provision of assistance to terrorists were not independently substantiated in the material provided.

New Administrative Structure for 12 Districts

Tarar announced that a regional representation and development council would be established for the 12 districts covered by the federal government’s measures.

He said the proposed structure would include a chairman, vice-chairman, council members and a spokesperson, alongside an additional chief secretary and other senior administrative officials. Yahya Akhunzada would serve as administrator, according to the minister.

The proposed arrangement would also include director-generals, an additional inspector general for police, law enforcement and anti-narcotics departments, and administrative units responsible for legal affairs, tribal matters, human rights, budgeting and revenue.

Tarar said the council would maintain a balance of regional and tribal representation and include individuals from different backgrounds. He described the proposed administration as an opportunity to restore security, improve governance and accelerate development in the affected districts.

He maintained that establishing peace and order would be the first priority, followed by measures to improve public services and economic opportunities for residents.

Government Promises Improved Security and Governance

The minister said the proposed administrative arrangements were intended to restore public confidence and protect citizens, their livelihoods and their property.

He also claimed that the public had welcomed the federal government’s measures, although the briefing did not provide independent evidence to establish the extent of public support.

Tarar contrasted the proposed administrative team with the previous provincial cabinet, describing the new members as experienced and professionally qualified. He said the council would include public- and private-sector representatives, with attention to gender inclusion and tribal balance.

The federal government, he added, remained committed to eliminating terrorism and ending what he described as the links between militancy, crime and political interests.

The allegations and figures presented during the briefing reflect the information minister’s position. Independent verification of the statistics, the claims concerning the provincial government and the legal implementation of the new administrative structure would be necessary to establish a complete picture of the situation.