The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan’s federal government will redirect bulletproof vehicles initially sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to Balochistan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Wednesday, following criticism from KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over the vehicles’ condition.
Afridi earlier this week accused the federal government of
pursuing a “flawed policy” that he said had contributed to a resurgence of
terrorism in the province. He also claimed the vehicles provided by the
Interior Ministry were “defective and old” and demanded that they be recalled.
Afridi further alleged that the federal government had failed to release
counterterrorism funds owed to the province.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti quickly responded
to Afridi’s remarks, posting on X that if KP was rejecting the vehicles, they
should instead be transferred to his province to strengthen its own
counterterrorism operations.
“CM sahib, done,” Naqvi replied Wednesday on X. “These
bulletproof vehicles will be sent to Balochistan immediately to enhance counter-terrorism
efforts. Thank you for raising this.”
The exchange has highlighted growing tensions between
Islamabad and the newly elected PTI-led KP government. Minister of State for
Interior Talal Chaudhry also weighed in, accusing Afridi of politicizing the
fight against terrorism and “returning necessary equipment to make the Centre
look weak.”
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks,
particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
ended its ceasefire with the government in late 2022. The country ranked second
on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index.
