What happened

According to Dawn, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi co-chaired a provincial apex committee meeting on Monday. The session occurred a day after the federal government imposed governor's rule under Article 234 and an emergency under Article 232 in the province. During the meeting, Kundi emphasized that tackling terrorism will be the top priority for the new set-up, stating that the administration is willing to sacrifice development for provincial security.

Key facts

  • Governor Kundi pledged continuous work to fulfill the demands of the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department, aiming to restore freedom of movement in affected areas such as Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Waziristan.
  • Interior Minister Naqvi stated that the federal and provincial governments are now fully aligned, criticizing the previous provincial government for failing to lead counterterrorism efforts despite repeated federal requests.
  • Following a federal cabinet meeting that cited the provincial leadership's disengagement from counterterrorism, the central government authorized the deployment of Pakistan Army troops and assets to assist civil authorities.
  • Initial measures on the ground included heavy police presence and shipping containers positioned around Peshawar to block several roadways.
  • Kundi also addressed the newly established KP Advisory Council, stating there would be zero tolerance for corruption and demanding timely, result-oriented actions.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, federal ministers alleged that the former PTI-led government in KP maintained a connection with terrorist organizations, using the security situation to justify the emergency intervention. The action reflects ongoing friction between central authorities and the PTI regarding counterterrorism strategies, which previously contributed to the collapse of talks on October 3. While the PTI has argued it was excluded from regional security decisions, opposed military operations, and sought policy reviews, federal leaders have repeatedly faulted the provincial administration's security performance and its position on dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.

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Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 12, 2026 · Photo by Javier Garcia Chavez on Unsplash