Islamabad: (RightNow) Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has raised 8 questions on PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s security policy via social media. Political tensions have escalated following the failure of negotiations between the federal government and PTI. PTI attributes the failure to the lack of access to Imran Khan.

A deadlock occurred in negotiations between government, opposition, and PPP delegations. The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, included a 6-member government delegation, a 6-member opposition delegation, and a 3-member PPP delegation, but no consensus was reached.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has initiated PTI’s long march from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. The federal government has tightened security by placing containers on Islamabad’s routes. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in Peshawar.

Khawaja Asif questioned why an effective policy against terrorism has not been formulated despite long-term governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal power. He also raised concerns about alleged drone attacks from Afghanistan.

It is noteworthy that PTI has strongly reacted to the government’s demands. They claim that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is being forced to endorse all federal security operations, while PTI believes the issue should be resolved through consultation with the provincial assembly and local elders’ jirga.