Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar defends the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urges action against cross-border attacks and calls for international support to strengthen law enforcement.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has defended the decision to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the government had no other option, while calling for an end to attacks originating from Afghan territory and urging the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting terrorist groups.

Addressing a seminar in Islamabad, Dar said imposing an emergency in the province was not an easy decision. However, he maintained that the government had been left with no alternative.

Dar also highlighted the economic consequences of political protests and sit-ins, saying such activities cause serious damage to the country’s economy.

His remarks linked the government’s decision on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with broader concerns about security, economic stability and the need to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies.

Calls for action against terrorism

Dar said the government was using all available resources to eliminate terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stressed that efforts to address the security situation required effective action against militant groups and stronger capabilities among law enforcement agencies.

The deputy prime minister said Pakistan needed international cooperation to enhance the operational capacity of its law enforcement institutions. He did not specify which countries or forms of assistance would be involved in the cooperation he called for.

His comments underscored the government’s stated focus on improving security capabilities as it seeks to counter terrorism in the province.

Message to Afghan Taliban

Dar called for attacks on Pakistan originating from Afghan territory to stop. He also urged the Afghan Taliban government to immediately end all forms of assistance to terrorist groups, including the provision of weapons.

He argued that taking action against terrorists would also serve Afghanistan’s own interests.

The remarks highlighted Pakistan’s demand that the Afghan authorities prevent their territory from being used to launch attacks against Pakistan and halt any support for groups involved in terrorism.

Dar’s statement also emphasized the need for cooperation beyond Pakistan’s borders, alongside domestic measures to improve law enforcement capacity.

Security and economic concerns

The deputy prime minister’s address covered both the security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the economic impact of political unrest. He said the government was committed to using all available resources to combat terrorism while seeking international assistance to strengthen law enforcement institutions.

His defense of the emergency reflected the government’s stated position that extraordinary measures had become necessary. However, the remarks provided no further details about the emergency’s implementation, duration or specific administrative measures.

The address placed counterterrorism efforts, cross-border security and economic stability at the center of the government’s stated priorities.