- Centre–KP tensions flare as provinces spar over counterterror funding, faulty vehicles
- Afridi blames Islamabad for ‘flawed policy,’ says KP denied war-on-terror dues
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced that the bulletproof vehicles earlier sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would now be dispatched to Balochistan, after KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi accused the federal government of supplying “defective and old” vehicles and neglecting the province’s security needs.
The move followed a public exchange between the two provincial governments, exposing deepening tensions between Islamabad and KP over resource allocation for counterterrorism efforts.
On Monday, Chief Minister Afridi had blamed what he called the Centre’s “flawed policy” for the resurgence of terrorism in KP, alleging that the federal government had neither released funds due under the war on terror nor fulfilled other constitutionally guaranteed obligations. He further charged that the bulletproof vehicles sent by the Interior Ministry were unfit for use and should be recalled.
A day later, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti weighed in, saying that his province also faced mounting terrorist threats and could make better use of the vehicles. “It is an appeal to the interior minister that if the KP government is refusing to take the bulletproof vehicles, they should be transferred to the Balochistan government so that terrorism can be countered effectively,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
Naqvi promptly accepted the suggestion, responding, “CM sahib, done. These bulletproof vehicles will be sent to Balochistan immediately to enhance counter-terrorism efforts. Thank you for raising the issue.”
The exchange came as federal and provincial authorities traded accusations over the handling of Pakistan’s escalating security crisis. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday criticised Chief Minister Afridi for politicising the issue, expressing disappointment that “the fight against terrorism and the sacrifices of our soldiers are being overshadowed by politics.”
Chaudhry accused the PTI-led KP government of “refusing to fight terrorism” in order to “blackmail the federal government.” Responding directly to Afridi’s remarks on the bulletproof vehicles, he said it was “unfortunate that CM Afridi was returning necessary equipment just to make the Centre look weak for political point scoring.”
“If you did not like the bulletproof cars, then maybe give your own instead,” he added, accusing the provincial government of “creating unnecessary drama instead of focusing on counterterror operations.”
The dispute comes amid a marked rise in terrorist attacks across Pakistan, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
According to the latest Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan now ranks second worldwide among countries most affected by terrorism—underscoring growing security concerns and strained cooperation between Islamabad and the provinces on counterterror strategy.
