PM Shehbaz Sharif Vows Federal-Military Cooperation to Combat Terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR (Terror Monitor) — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged that the federal government will work closely with the country’s military leadership to combat terrorism and address the problems facing residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as authorities review emergency measures in 12 districts of the insurgency-hit province.

Chairing a meeting of the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan (NAP) at the Governor House in Peshawar on Thursday, Sharif said restoring peace and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a priority for the government.

According to Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the prime minister received a detailed briefing on the imposition of emergency measures in 12 districts during the meeting, which was attended by senior civilian and military officials.

“The federal government, in coordination with the military leadership, will work to resolve the problems of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Sharif said.

Defending the measures taken in the province, the prime minister maintained that the Constitution and the law authorized the decisions.

Sharif Blames Deteriorating Security for Emergency Measures

Sharif said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been severely affected by terrorism and the lack of basic public services, arguing that the situation had compelled the authorities to introduce emergency measures and impose governor’s rule.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been severely affected by terrorism and the unavailability of basic public facilities. We were compelled to impose an emergency and governor’s rule in the province,” he said.

The prime minister said developments over the past several years had significantly undermined security in the province.

“The circumstances that developed over the past few years have severely affected the province. The situation created over the last six years has caused significant damage to law and order,” Sharif said.

He also criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleging that its provincial government had neglected education, healthcare, security and other public welfare sectors.

Sharif argued that the alleged neglect had contributed to the resurgence of terrorism in recent years.

His remarks came as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued to face militant attacks targeting security personnel, police officers and civilians. The province has experienced a renewed wave of violence, particularly in districts near the Afghan border.

Federal Government Pledges Support for Counterterrorism Efforts

Sharif said the federal government had assured PTI ministers that it would stand with them in efforts to combat terrorism.

He emphasized the need for cooperation between civilian authorities and the military to improve security and prevent further militant violence.

The prime minister also highlighted the federal government’s economic policies, saying that the administration had worked intensively over the past two and a half years to restore economic stability.

According to Sharif, sustained efforts by Pakistan’s political and military leadership had helped stabilize the country’s economic situation.

He reiterated that the federal government would cooperate with the military leadership to address the security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and improve conditions for its residents.

KP Governor Says People Want Peace

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi told the meeting that restoring law and order in the province was the government’s foremost priority.

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted peace and stressed that cooperation among Pakistan’s state institutions was essential for achieving security and development.

“If all institutions of Pakistan are on the same page, the process of peace and development cannot be stopped,” Kundi said.

He added that eliminating terrorists, their facilitators and their financial supporters from the province remained a key priority.

The governor’s remarks highlighted the need for coordinated action by civilian authorities, security forces and law enforcement agencies to dismantle militant networks and prevent further attacks.

Senior Civilian and Military Leadership Attends Meeting

The Federal Apex Committee meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Governor Kundi, federal ministers, senior military leaders and officials from relevant government institutions.

The committee provides a forum for civilian and military leadership to coordinate counterterrorism policies and review security measures under the National Action Plan.

Thursday’s meeting focused on the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emergency measures in 12 districts and efforts to counter terrorism.

Sharif reiterated that the federal government would work with the military leadership to combat terrorism and address public concerns, maintaining that the measures taken in the province were authorized by the Constitution and the law.

The meeting comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where attacks on security personnel and law enforcement agencies have raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing counterterrorism measures.

Terror Monitor will continue to follow developments concerning Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy and the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.