Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor: Provincial Policies Will Come From Islamabad, Not Kabul

DID Press: Faisal Karim Kundi, governor of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has said that provincial policies will henceforth be determined in coordination with the federal government in Islamabad, rather than in Kabul, Jalalabad or Kandahar.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Monday, Kundi said the period of poor coordination between the federal and provincial governments had come to an end. He added that the new administration would work with the central government and seek to resolve unnecessary disputes with other provinces.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan’s federal government imposed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suspending the provincial government and transferring administrative authority to Kundi. The move followed growing security concerns and accusations by federal officials that the provincial administration had failed to cooperate adequately in counterterrorism efforts. A state of emergency was also declared in 12 districts, according to reports.

Pakistani federal officials have accused the previous provincial administration of allowing militant groups to operate and failing to take effective action against them. The allegations come amid Islamabad’s concerns about cross-border attacks launched from Afghan territory. Pakistan’s claims regarding militant activity and alleged support by the former provincial administration remain disputed; the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has rejected accusations linking it to militancy.