Federal Government Sends Clear Message to PTI Over Counterterrorism Policy

ISLAMABAD: The federal government and security establishment have conveyed a clear message to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership that there can be no compromise on the country’s counterterrorism policy and that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government cannot pursue a separate security policy from the federation.

According to informed sources, PTI leadership has been told that the federal government and security establishment view the growing threat of terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as a consequence of external aggression. They believe Afghan soil is being used for attacks against Pakistan.

Sources said Pakistan’s assessment is that foreign elements are involved in supporting terrorism inside the country, with India identified as playing a central role. They added that Israel’s alleged role is also being discussed in the context of the broader security threat.

According to sources, formulating Pakistan’s response to external aggression is the responsibility of the federal government. The national security policy will be formulated by the federation in consultation with the military and defence establishment, while provinces are expected to fully support and implement it.

A source involved in talks with PTI leadership said that when the country faces circumstances described as external aggression, separate security policies cannot be formulated for different provinces.

The message assumes greater significance amid growing tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, particularly over the provincial administration’s approach to the security situation and its political confrontation with the Centre.

Sources said PTI leadership was told that the current situation, marked by continued terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a broader security threat, is considered unacceptable by the federal government and security establishment. Therefore, any provincial mechanism that conflicts with the national security policy would not be acceptable.

The sources stressed that the federal government expects the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to fully cooperate with security forces and other law-enforcement agencies in implementing the national counterterrorism policy.

According to sources, the purpose of conveying the message to PTI leadership was also to make it clear that political differences between the Centre and the province should not be allowed to weaken the state’s response to security challenges.

The federal government maintains that once a national security policy is formulated in response to the threat of external aggression, all provincial governments must support it rather than formulate or pursue separate policies.

Sources said the federal government and security establishment want the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to demonstrate through its actions that it fully supports the national security policy and will provide maximum cooperation to security institutions in the fight against terrorism.

The sources further clarified that, from the Centre’s perspective, the issue is no longer merely a political disagreement between Islamabad and Peshawar. It is being treated as a matter of national security, with the federal government retaining final authority over national security policy and strategy.