Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the federal cabinet, expressed serious concern over the rising wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, describing the deteriorating security situation as a major threat to national stability.
The Prime Minister accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups, stating that despite repeated diplomatic engagements and negotiations, the Afghan authorities continued to act as proxies for forces destabilizing Pakistan. He also criticized the KP government for its alleged failure to effectively counter terrorism and cooperate with federal security institutions.
Referring to financial allocations, the Prime Minister reportedly claimed that $800 billion had been allocated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past decade under the NFC arrangement. He emphasized that the federal government’s concerns were not motivated by political point-scoring, while questioning why terrorist attacks appeared to spare PTI protest gatherings.
The Prime Minister further accused certain political elements of attempting to destabilize Pakistan and warned that the government would not allow them to enter Islamabad. He held Sohail Afridi primarily responsible for the prevailing political and security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Despite these concerns, the Prime Minister announced that a joint delegation would be sent to the KP government to discuss all outstanding issues and explore a possible resolution through dialogue. He also acknowledged the role of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had been requested to coordinate with the provincial leadership and, according to the Prime Minister, had played his role fairly.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister reportedly emphasized the urgency of the situation, declaring, “This is the time. Now or never.”
