PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the federal and KP governments are now on the same page in the fight against terrorism, expressing confidence that coordinated efforts would produce positive results in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Today is the first day I can proudly say that the federal and provincial governments are on the same page,” Naqvi said while addressing the Apex Committee meeting in KP with Governor Faisal Karim Kundi by his side.
The interior minister said those fighting terrorism had faced particularly difficult circumstances. He recalled instances when people were reluctant to attend the funerals of victims of terrorism, adding that federal representatives had travelled from Islamabad to attend such funerals.
Mohsin Naqvi said the provincial government had a responsibility to lead the fight against terrorism, stressing that lasting success would not be possible unless the local government took the lead in the campaign.
He claimed that the provincial government had expressed opposition to terrorism but had failed to condemn it consistently.
“The federal government will fulfil its responsibilities. Wherever you need us, we will stand with you,” he said, assuring support for security personnel and law enforcement agencies.
Mohsin Naqvi urged officials not to lose heart in the face of challenges, saying difficult times might lie ahead but the situation must be confronted collectively.
“If we stand united, there is no way they can defeat us,” he said, expressing confidence that sincere efforts would yield results.
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The interior minister also called for a return to the five-district plan, expressing hope that empowering police in groups of five districts would strengthen their operational capacity.
He said the public wanted peace and freedom from terrorism, adding that the government must respond effectively to these demands.
Commenting on recent political developments, Naqvi alleged that PTI had expected road blockades to create unrest across the province. He praised law enforcement agencies for handling the situation peacefully.
The minister also referred to the growing difficulty of distinguishing authentic videos from fabricated content, highlighting the challenges posed by misleading digital material.
Naqvi concluded by expressing confidence that, through coordinated efforts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be taken ahead of the other provinces in terms of development and stability.