PM\u2019s adviser urges political consensus on security, saying federal govt remains open to cooperation with opposition<\/p>\n
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. SCREENGRAB <\/p>\n
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday hinted that the federal government could consider foregoing interim governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed to support law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n
A day earlier, a joint session<\/a> of parliament adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor\u2019s rule in K-P for two months, amid protests from the opposition. Before that, both houses of parliament<\/a> had separately approved the emergency in the province by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers.<\/p>\n The emergency and governor\u2019s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations between the government and opposition failed<\/a>, culminating in a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4.<\/p>\n Speaking to a private news channel, Sanaullah said the government wanted all political parties to reach a consensus on counterterrorism, arguing that growing security challenges required a unified response from the federal and provincial governments.<\/p>\n He said the government\u2019s primary demand from the opposition was that it stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies and armed forces. The fight against terrorism had cost the country precious lives, including those of military personnel, he added.<\/p>\n Sanaullah maintained that political differences should not undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts, stressing that the strategy adopted to combat terrorism should not be questioned or made conditional on political demands.<\/p>\n Read More: <\/strong>Opp fails to thwart govt move in K-P<\/a><\/p>\n The remarks came amid renewed political engagement following meetings involving Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.<\/p>\n Responding to questions about why the government was pursuing negotiations despite parliament\u2019s ratification of the emergency measures and governor\u2019s rule, Sanaullah said the administration continued to seek consensus among political parties on matters of national security.<\/p>\n He argued that the evolving security situation demanded cooperation rather than confrontation, adding that the federal and provincial governments needed to adopt a common strategy to counter the threat. \u201cEveryone should stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies, and its armed forces,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He stressed that the war on terrorism had cost precious lives among law enforcement personnel, including military servicemen, and said it was therefore essential to support them and recognise their courage. \u201cTogether we need to win this war [against terrorism],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n India-Israel nexus<\/strong><\/p>\n Sanaullah attributed the latest wave of terrorism to India\u2019s defeat in Marka-e-Haq, referring to the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict. He said that India had subsequently launched a covert campaign against Pakistan under what he called \u201cOperation Sindoor 2\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are trying to avenge their defeat in the war,\u201d he said, stating that India was using the Afghan Taliban as proxies in its conflict with Pakistan. \u201cThey have housed terrorists in training camps and funded them,\u201d the prime minister\u2019s adviser said.<\/p>\n Sanaullah further alleged that Israel was providing technical training to terrorists in Afghanistan, enabling them to operate drones. \u201cIn view of all these precarious circumstances, there is a strong requirement that the central and the provincial governments adopt a unified approach to eliminate the threat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He reiterated that the government wanted a collective response to what it described as a challenge to Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty, warning that counterterrorism efforts could not succeed without coordination between the federal and provincial governments.<\/p>\n Political differences and negotiations<\/strong><\/p>\n Addressing contentious issues between the government and opposition, Sanaullah said previous rounds of negotiations had either produced agreements on specific matters or referred unresolved issues to a special committee comprising representatives from both sides.<\/p>\n He said these mechanisms were intended to facilitate dialogue and identify a way forward on outstanding matters.<\/p>\n The prime minister\u2019s adviser also criticised the PTI\u2019s response to legal proceedings against its leaders, arguing that allegations of political victimisation should be addressed through the judicial process.<\/p>\n