KP governor says weak political ownership hurt counterterrorism; new police plan set out

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday that the fight against terrorism requires greater political ownership, according to The Express Tribune.

The provincial government announced a new plan to strengthen the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The proposed allocation includes Rs59.8 billion for the police and Rs10.3 billion for the CTD. The plan aims to improve security infrastructure, provide modern equipment and address staffing shortages.

Adviser for Home and Tribal Affairs Kifayatullah Khan and Home Secretary Amjad Ali Khan presented the plan at the Governor House. Its targets include reducing the police manpower shortfall, improving surveillance and expanding the CTD's presence across the province. The government intends to complete immediate measures within 100 days and further targets within 180 days.

The provincial government would supply police with weapons, ammunition and other resources needed for their duties. It has approved compensation packages for police personnel killed in the line of duty and is working on improving other benefits, including welfare packages and the Security Challenge Allowance. Officials were also directed to prepare a plan to upgrade police stations, posts, lines and offices in the former tribal areas. No police line had been established in the merged districts since the merger.

The report said the provincial government convened an Apex Committee meeting on its first working day and later held a large meeting in Peshawar attended by the prime minister, federal ministers, the field marshal and senior security officials. It requested Rs160 billion from the federal government, which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to support. Kundi said coordination with the federal government had improved and that follow-up meetings were held in Islamabad.

Kundi said, "The first, second and third priority of this government is security," and, "This is absolutely our war." He also said, "There can be no dialogue with those who do not recognise the state, the Constitution and the law."

Kundi accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing its territory to be used by India and Israel against Pakistan. He said drones had crossed the border and some had been intercepted by Pakistani forces, and that Pakistan raised the issue at international forums through the Foreign Office, the foreign minister and the deputy prime minister.

He urged the provincial government to learn from security and administrative measures adopted by Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. He also said some former terrorists repatriated from Afghanistan or released from prison had later taken up arms again.