Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the federal government made every effort to prevent an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He addressed Parliament’s joint session on Thursday and explained the government’s attempts to resolve provincial security concerns. Naqvi said the government wanted cooperation rather than an emergency. He added that officials had tried to settle disagreements through dialogue.
The minister said the federal government repeatedly sought the provincial government’s cooperation against terrorism. It also pursued talks to address the security situation in the province. However, Naqvi said officials faced serious difficulties while trying to establish an apex committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stressed that the government wanted both sides to work together.
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Naqvi referred to an apex committee meeting held in Peshawar in February this year. He said efforts to establish the committee in the province had encountered major obstacles. According to the minister, the federal government considered cooperation essential for addressing terrorism. He said dialogue remained a priority throughout the discussions.
The interior minister also referred to repeated terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said security personnel continued to lose their lives during these attacks. Naqvi alleged that the provincial chief minister made remarks against the army on the following days. He raised these concerns while explaining the difficulties surrounding cooperation between the governments.
Naqvi also mentioned National Assembly member Asad Qaiser’s comments on terrorism. He said he had pointed out differences between Qaiser’s position and statements from the provincial government. According to Naqvi, terrorism remained a central issue during negotiations. He said discussions repeatedly focused on addressing the threat.
Read more: Mohsin Naqvi says agreement could have prevented emergency
The minister said the government had tried to resolve the situation through mutual understanding. He added that he had personally met Sohail Afridi several times. Naqvi presented these meetings as part of the efforts to maintain communication. He maintained that the government had preferred cooperation over emergency measures.
Naqvi reiterated that the federal government did not want an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said officials had pursued negotiations and sought provincial cooperation on security matters. His remarks came during Parliament’s joint session on Thursday. The minister’s statement outlined the government’s position on its efforts to address terrorism and avoid emergency measures in the province.
