ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP): State Minister for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry on Monday warned that any political leader, whether a chief minister or a party office-bearer, making ambiguous or sympathetic remarks toward militants would face strict action, saying the state would “not tolerate even a single vague word” against the national counter-terrorism narrative.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Chaudhry said political parties were free to launch street movements and political campaigns, but no one would be allowed to create space for militants who had targeted “mosques, madrassas, markets, schools, children and security forces without discrimination.”
“If anyone tries to build a narrative for them or adopt a soft attitude, it is intolerable,” he said. “If you have so much sympathy for them, go to Afghanistan yourself or we will facilitate it.”
The minister launched a blistering critique of the KP government, accusing it of intentionally weakening counter-terrorism capabilities in the province despite bearing the highest toll of militant attacks.
He claimed that over 1,200 people had been killed in terrorism incidents, with 60–70% of attacks occurring in KP in 2025 the highest number in Pakistan’s history.
He alleged that more than half of KP’s districts still lacked a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Safe City systems had not been established, only 25–30% of cameras had been installed in Peshawar most of them incomplete and no forensic laboratory had been built.
“You deliberately did not spend on counter-terrorism institutions,” he said, accusing the provincial leadership of seeking political benefit from an “ambiguous narrative.”
Chaudhry said chaos suited those who wished to weaken the state. “You believe that the more disorder there is, the weaker the state becomes, and then you can blackmail it. That is why letters are written to the IMF and lobbying is done abroad.”
Responding to a question about the KP government’s electoral mandate, he said provincial mandates did not extend to foreign affairs, defence, internal security or border management. “Their mandate is in health, education and law and order. They cannot decide which country Pakistan talks to.”
The minister also rejected claims that the federal government had ignored KP, saying he and the prime minister had made multiple visits to the province. He said counter-terrorism meetings were held twice a month at the Interior Ministry and chaired by the prime minister every month or every other month, but “the KP Chief Minister did not attend.”
Chaudhry said a detailed briefing would soon be given to journalists on the federal Counter-Terrorism Drive (CTD), which includes nearly two dozen benchmarks. He said Punjab had implemented Safe City systems in every district and even at tehsil level, while KP had lagged far behind.
Reiterating the government’s stance, Chaudhry said there was no space for terrorism or for those who sympathised with militants. “Anyone supporting terrorists will face the same treatment as terrorists,” he said. “No one will be allowed to play with Pakistan’s blood not with weapons and not with narratives.”