ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani on Thursday accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of neglecting counter-terrorism responsivities despite receiving around Rs 800 billion, saying it was instead locked in confrontation with the federation.
Speaking at a press conference, Kayani said the provincial government had failed to equip its security forces with basic requirements, including bulletproof jackets, vehicles, check posts and other essential equipment, despite the substantial funds provided for combating terrorism.
“The KP government is not fulfilling its responsibilities in the war against terrorism,” he said, adding that the provincial administration was not taking ownership of the fight against terrorism and was instead preparing to “launch an assault on Islamabad.”
He said the deteriorating security situation could not be ignored and stressed that all institutions and governments would have to perform their constitutional and legal responsibilities to defeat terrorism.
Kayani also accused KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of derailing efforts to hold talks between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying political confrontation was creating further impediments to addressing the country’s security challenges.
He said the fight against terrorism was a national responsibility and could not be compromised because of political differences between the federation and a province.
“The time has come to remove all impediments to combating the menace of terrorism,” he said, stressing that the state would continue taking measures to protect the lives and property of citizens.
He made it clear that no individual, political party or group could be allowed to challenge the writ of the state through violence.
“Nobody can be permitted to resort to violence against the state or attack military installations,” he said, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
The minister said the government would not compromise on the authority of the state and would take all necessary measures to counter terrorism and protect national institutions.
He said political confrontation should not be allowed to weaken the country’s response to terrorism, adding that the federal and provincial governments must work together rather than create obstacles to security operations.
Kayani expressed confidence that Pakistan would ultimately win the war against terrorism “at all costs,” saying the state would continue its fight until the threat was eliminated.
He also pointed to a constitutional provision for finding a solution if the provincial government failed to cooperate in the war against terrorism, signalling that the Centre could consider constitutional options if the KP government did not fulfil its responsibilities.
He reiterated that attacks on state institutions, military installations and other acts of violence could not be justified under any circumstances, saying the writ of the state had to be upheld across the country.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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