PTI cannot leverage street demos to intimidate the state, says Rana
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah made it clear that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf cannot leverage street demonstrations to intimidate the state, stressing that political talks must remain free from any external pressure.
Talking to the media here on Wednesday, he reiterated that while the administration remains ready to engage with the opposition, discussions must take place without the threat of street agitation or attempts to destabilize the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered the PTI leadership to abandon Long March plans and return to the negotiating table.
Regarding the recent failure of government-opposition dialogue, Rana Sanaullah attributed the stalemate to conflicts over the PTI’s planned march on Islamabad.
He; however, denied that the government had closed the door to reconciliation. He emphasised that the government’s doors are still open for parleys.
Sanauallah dismissed assertions that the opposition was being excluded from national security discussions as unfounded, explaining that Pakistan’s counterterrorism framework is actively maintained through ongoing, targeted intelligence operations.
He dispelled speculation surrounding a new conventional military offensive, clarifying that the current framework originally announced in 2024 as Operation Azm-i-Istehkam and later designated as Vision Azm-i-Istehkam relies on precision actions to avoid displacing civilian populations, aligning with prior assurances from Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Defending the country’s foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, Rana asserted that Pakistan is fully justified in its demand that Afghan territory must not be used to launch cross-border attacks. He disclosed that Pakistani officials have provided evidence to the interim Afghan government linking recent terrorism to bases across the border, and while Afghan authorities acknowledged the proof, they stopped short of providing binding guarantees. Consequently, Pakistan reserves the right to target militant training facilities or operational bases inside Afghan territory if they pose a threat to national security.
Sanaullah concluded by criticising the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its handling of security challenges in the province. Expressing concern over the ongoing loss of life among civilians and security personnel, he questioned why provincial leaders were prioritising political rallies in Islamabad over governance and public safety in their own region, maintaining that partisan ambitions should never compromise national stability.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026