Civil-military meeting agrees to widen Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operations

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday agreed to expand intelligence-based operations against militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to strengthen coordination between federal and provincial institutions, with the province under governor's rule since 11 October.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, federal ministers, governors and senior officials attended, The Express Tribune reported.

Participants reviewed the internal security situation with a focus on law and order in the province, developments after governor's rule and the state of emergency were imposed, and progress in counterterrorism operations, the newspaper reported. Sources told it that the meeting decided to widen the scope of the operations, and that the political situation and possible legislation in the coming days were also discussed.

The prime minister directed the institutions concerned to work under a coordinated strategy to restore law and order, and stressed better cooperation between government departments so that decisions are implemented.

Governor Kundi briefed the meeting on measures taken across sectors of the province and on the performance of the Area Development Council. The Rs160 billion development package announced at an Apex Committee meeting chaired by the prime minister on 22 October came under review again.

The Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reported that attacks fell 37 per cent in October compared with September after governor's rule took effect. The institute warned last week that some incidents remained a cause for concern.

In the most recent of them, two policemen were killed in Mohmand district when gunmen targeted personnel guarding a polio vaccination team. District Police Officer Raza Muhammad Khan said a constable and an alleged militant were wounded in an exchange of fire in the Tamanzai area, within the jurisdiction of Pindiali police station, during the campaign.

President Asif Ali Zardari said on X that targeting personnel on duty to protect children was "extremely regrettable and condemnable", and that the sacrifices of police guarding polio teams would not be forgotten. In a separate statement, the prime minister condemned the attack, paid tribute to the two policemen and offered condolences to their families.

Funeral prayers for Constables Zahoor Khan and Arabi Khan were held at Police Lines Ghalanai with official honours. DPO Raza Khan, 114 Brigade Commander Brigadier Iftikhar Mehboob, Mohmand Rifles Commandant Colonel Imran Khalid and Deputy Commissioner Mohmand (retd) Captain Bilal Shahid Rao laid floral wreaths, and a police contingent presented a salute.