Tarar accuses K-P govt of ‘facilitating’ terrorists for political, financial interests

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry criticized the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government for allegedly aiding terrorists for political and financial gain. During a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar demanded the K-P government openly acknowledge the need to eliminate terrorists from Pakistan and the province.

He accused the government of prioritizing its own interests over the safety of its citizens, stating that the government was more concerned with political gains and financial opportunities, such as illegal mining and contracts, than ensuring law and order.

Chaudhry accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership of having a "soft attitude" towards Afghanistan, questioning why the K-P government did not condemn attacks originating from the neighboring country or its proxies. He argued that the provincial government had failed to provide adequate leadership, resources, and power to its security forces for the past 14 years, resulting in a "soft attitude" towards terrorists.

Chaudhry presented evidence linking one of the suspected attackers to Afghanistan, suggesting that Afghan nationals were responsible for a significant majority of terrorist activities in the region for the past two-and-a-half to three years. He claimed that Pakistan had made numerous efforts to address the issue through international forums, bilateral contacts, and friendly countries, but Afghanistan continued to support these groups.

Chaudhry also criticized the K-P government for failing to adequately equip its Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) with essential resources, including bulletproof jackets, vehicles, training, forensic labs, and a Safe City network. He accused the provincial government of weakening the CTD's institutional authority by not providing necessary resources.

Chaudhry rejected claims that the federal government had excluded K-P from counter-terrorism policymaking, stating that provincial representatives had failed to attend national security and counter-terrorism meetings despite being invited.

The minister urged the K-P leadership to take responsibility for the ongoing terrorist attacks, questioning why they had not condemned the enemy or named the individuals responsible. He argued that if Pakistan is burning in terrorism, it is due to K-P's incompetent leadership and their deliberate soft approach towards terrorism.

Chaudhry asserted that Afghanistan was the source of many of the terrorist groups and organizations operating in Pakistan, comprising approximately 70% of the involved individuals over the past few years.