Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday that Sohail Afridi and Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati were “in safe hands” after being placed under house arrest.

Afridi, who has become non-functional as the KP chief minister, has not been seen since the Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in his province on Oct 11. After their whereabouts remained unknown that day, a federal minister confirmed the next day that he and some of his cabinet members were in preventative custody.

However, with no further details officially confirmed, Afridi’s brother and Swati’s cousin have approached the Peshawar High Court separately to seek their relative’s recovery.

Appearing on Geo News’ TV programme ‘Jirga’ aired on Sunday night, the governor — who now runs the province — was asked about the whereabouts of Afridi, Kundi said he had been placed under house arrest and was “in safe hands — there is no need to worry”.

He said that if there were cases against Afridi, action would be taken against him and he would be indicted. However, if there were no cases, he would be released.

Asked why Afridi was not being released if there were no cases against him, Kundi replied he could provide an update tomorrow regarding the matter.

The governor further said that Speaker Swati was also under house arrest and would also be freed if there were no charges against him. Responding to another question, Kundi accused the PTI member of committing “illegal and unconstitutional” acts in his role as the KP Assembly Speaker.

Asked how many people were self-arrested and how many were “genuinely” arrested, Kundi said he did not have these numbers but that about 40 or 50 per cent of them were “under self-imposed arrest or self-concealment”.

The governor also addressed the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, stressing that it had been the “absolute last option”.

Regarding the potential duration of the emergency, he said, “We will see … after six months are complete, we will talk about what will and will not happen.

“But in my opinion, maybe it will run longer,” he added, clarifying that this was a “personal opinion” and he could be wrong.

He said that the basis for saying this was that the Centre and province needed to be “on the same page” in the fight against terrorism and “streamline” efforts against it, and was making plans accordingly, which he believed would take some time.

Kundi also distanced himself and the state policy from purported remarks made by Malik Khan Marjan — a member of the newly formed Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) for 12 districts of KP — wherein he favoured dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.

“I will definitely check on this, but our policy is very clear: for now, we will not be holding talks with Afghanistan,” he maintained.

The governor condemned acts of terrorism carried out against Pakistan from Afghan soil and criticised Kabul for “allowing” India to use its soil against Pakistan while also asking for dialogue.

“If there is terrorism from there … our army knows how to fix it,” he added. “There is no dialogue and no talks of any kind about this.”

“I think this is his (Marjan’s) personal opinion, but it is not our policy,” Kundi said.

Security forces killed six terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

The IBO was conducted on Saturday in DI Khan’s general area of Zarkani on the “reported presence of khawarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al Khawarij”, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Owing to [the] meticulous conduct of operation by security forces, six India-sponsored khawarij were sent to hell,” ISPR said.

It added that 36-year-old Naik Ghulam Murtaza, who hailed from Punjab’s Gujrat, and 30-year-old Sepoy Taseer Ahmed, a resident of Punjab’s Talagang, “fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifices and embraced martyrdom”.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as the killing of innocent civilians”, the ISPR statement noted.

A sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, ISPR said.

It affirmed that the “relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i- Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”.

“These sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” the military’s media wing stated.

Surge in terrorism

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time. The province, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

In response to these incidents, security forces have been conducting operations in various parts of the province.

Earlier this month, security forces killed eight terrorists during an IBO in DI Khan, state media reported, citing security sources.

On Friday, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir affirmed that the armed forces will continue the counterterrorism campaign against India-sponsored terrorist groups “to the fullest”, vowing to “hit them hard wherever they are”.

CDF Munir visited the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar, where he was briefed on the security situation, ongoing counterterrorism operations, border management measures and the operational preparedness of formations deployed in the province.

According to a report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, reversing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters.

Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday that Jhang Deputy Commissioner Babar Sahib Din was being removed immediately over the recent use of an official vehicle of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) in a jeep rally, terming it a breach of discipline.

A three-day Jhang Thal Jeep Rally, which concluded last week, was organised in collaboration with private sponsors, according to Jhang District Information Officer Riaz Marth. He added that the event had received appreciation from provincial government authorities.

The chief minister took notice of the incident when a video surfaced on social media showing a Pera vehicle participating in the rally alongside other vehicles.

“The deployment of a regulatory authority’s resources for non-serious purposes, beyond its officially prescribed mandate, constitutes a serious breach of administrative discipline and a violation of established policy,” Maryam said on X on Sunday, sharing a post with the video.

“In view of this matter, the deputy commissioner is being removed from the post with immediate effect,” the chief minister said.

She also posted a notification issued by the Punjab government’s Services and General Administration Department on Sunday, which said that on the governor’s orders, DC Sahib Din “is hereby transferred, with immediate effect” and directed to report to the department for further orders.

In a later response to a claim that the vehicle was accompanying the rally for security and rescue purposes, the chief minister pointed out that security was the responsibility of the police, while rescue and emergency response were within the mandate of Rescue 1122.

“Neither function falls within Pera’s statutory mandate,” she said. “The activity in question, therefore, has no apparent connection with Pera’s prescribed duties and raises serious concerns about the rationale for deploying its vehicle in the rally.”

The Punjab CM also shared a letter issued by Pera Director General Farrukh Atiq Khan on Oct 21 — after the jeep rally concluded — wherein he directed all DCs and chairpersons of DERBs (District Enforcement and Regulatory Boards) to look into the misuse of Pera vehicles.

“It has been observed that Pera double-cabin vehicles issued to your good offices, for Pera field operations exclusively, are being engaged in unauthorised activities/operations,” the letter by the retired captain read.

It noted that some DCs had handed over Pera vehicles to assistant DCs, which was a violation of the authority’s official policy. DG Khan directed the DCs to retrieve or withdraw Pera vehicles from “any unauthorised allocation”.

The Pera force, created in the middle of last year, was aimed at conducting anti-encroachment and price control operations across various parts of Punjab, but in May, complaints poured in about its officials taking bribes from vendors and shopkeepers.

Subsequently, Maryam had ordered a crackdown on its officials involved in illegal actions and harassment of the public. She also set a deadline of June 30 for the field officials to wear body cams in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability.

The chief minister had also directed the authorities concerned to upgrade Pera’s internal intelligence and whistleblower system. At the time, she raised serious concerns regarding Pera’s credibility and discipline.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday assured the residents of Islamabad that “not a single tree” will be cut down during the planned upgradation of the city’s F-9 Park.

In a post on X, the minister shared an Instagram video of an Islamabad resident requesting that if the park were to be developed, more greenery be planted instead of concrete buildings.

In his response, Naqvi recognised that F-9 Park — also known as Fatima Jinnah Park — “holds a special place in the hearts” of Islamabad residents and clarified that no trees would be removed in the process of developing the park.

“Let me make it absolutely clear that not a single tree will be cut, 100 per cent guaranteed,” he said. He further vowed that there would be “no new concrete structures”.

Instead, the planned upgrades included “better lighting, a beautiful lake, coffee shops, improved walkways” and the plantation of “thousands” of more trees in the park, the interior minister added.

“Our only goal is to make F-9 Park greener, safer, more beautiful, and more enjoyable for families and visitors,” he said.

Naqvi has previously shared plans to upgrade and improve recreational facilities around Islamabad, working with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to create a “more developed, clean, green, beautiful, safe, environmentally sustainable and citizen-friendly capital” while enhancing its tourism potential.

In April, he sought a comprehensive plan for transforming F-9 Park on the model of London’s Hyde Park, and for developing recreational facilities near Shahdara Dam.

However, development projects in the historically green city have not always been favourably received by residents, inciting concerns particularly over deforestation and clearance of land for residential areas.

At the start of this year, a large-scale tree removal drive took place in at least three locations in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), including around the Shakarparian area, sparking widespread public criticism.

The CDA maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed as they had been causing pollen allergies, and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry assured lawmakers that a greater number of trees would be planted in the coming months.

In 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) took notice of the removal of trees in F-9 Park and restrained the CDA from cutting trees in the area. The CDA, in response, told the SC that about 7,000 paper mulberry trees had been cut down because they caused allergies.

Security forces killed a terrorist commander during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Qila Saifullah, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday, citing security sources.

The slain terrorist was identified as Adil Shah alias Darvesh in the state broadcaster’s report, which said he belonged to Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

“Security forces are actively carrying out operations against terrorists in Balochistan under ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3’. According to security sources, the terrorist commander had been associated with Fitna-al-Khawarij since Dec 2020 and had been managing the financial affairs of the group since 2024,” the report said.

The commander was also involved in facilitating permanent residences for “foreign terrorists” in Balochistan’s Zhob, Sherani, and Shaban, the report quoted the sources as saying. It added that the slain terrorist had been involved in attacks on security forces and kidnapping for ransom since 2022.

Nineteen first information reports were registered against him and a bounty of Rs2.5 million was placed on his head, the report further stated.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said in a post on X that his killing showed the security forces’ “professional expertise and readiness”

The province has witnessed terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time.

On October 19, an army major was martyred, and four terrorists were killed during IBOs in Balochistan.

A day before that, security forces killed eight “India-sponsored” terrorists during IBOs conducted in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan.

On Oct 14, five terrorists were killed in an IBO in Balochistan’s Washuk by security forces, while 10 terrorists were killed in a targeted IBO conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department in Balochistan’s Barkhan district on Oct 10.

On Sept 17, three terrorists were eliminated in an IBO in Balochistan’s Awaran district’s Badrang area. Another three were killed in Mastung on Sept 14. Earlier in September, 21 terrorists were killed in separate engagements in Nokcha, Chagai, Ziarat Cross, and Pishin.

According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), terrorist violence increased substantially last month, with 225 attacks recorded nationwide, compared with 199 in August, representing a 13.1 per cent increase and the highest monthly total recorded in 12 years.

As per the report, terrorism related fatalities rose by 64 per cent from 158 to 259, while injuries increased by 33.7 per cent to 242.

Balochistan remained the most affected province, the report said, accounting for 131 attacks — 58.2pc of the national total.

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said last week that the armed forces will continue the counterterrorism campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist groups “to the fullest”, vowing to “hit them hard wherever they are”.

The PTI on Saturday clarified that MNA Junaid Akbar remains the president of the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, but Senator Noorul Haq Qadri will preside over the meetings in the former’s absence.

The whereabouts of Akbar remain unknown after he, along with Sohail Afridi and others, was taken into preventative custody following the Centre’s imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11.

Amid the absence, there were reports that more than 50 lawmakers from the KP Assembly had met on Oct 14 to endorse former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s nomination as acting provincial president in place of Akbar.

Subsequently, on Saturday, a notification signed by PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan declared that the party’s provincial organisation “shall continue to function under the presidency” of Akbar.

Senator Qadri, the incumbent senior vice president (SVP) of PTI’s KP chapter, “shall preside over all meetings of PTI provincial cabinet in absence of Junaid Akbar and shall act according to the Constitution of PTI”.

Qadri has served as the federal religious affairs minister during the PTI government.

Meanwhile, PTI KP Secretary General Ali Asghar Khan would “chair all meetings in the absence of SVP (Qadri) and is empowered to call and chair all meetings of other tiers of the provincial organisation”.

Asghar would also be “responsible for overall administration, coordination, supervision with all tiers and wings in order to implement party policies, strategies or decisions”.

The PTI notification further directed: “Subject to the foregoing, it is however made clear that no changes shall be made in the provincial cabinet or organisational structure of PTI KPK till further order.”

The notification also follows a public spat on social media between Gandapur and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja over the matter.

In a post on X, Raja had taken a dig at “the conspiratorial narrative” regarding a possible announcement by a group of party MPAs to nominate a new provincial president without permission from their jailed leader Imran Khan, or the party’s political committee.

On his part, Gandapur, in a lengthy post on X, criticised the secretary general for “levelling vague accusations” against his party colleagues and raised several questions regarding his statements.

Gandapur objects to Raja’s ‘snakes’ remarks

In his post on Wednesday, Raja had cited a “narrative” that 68 PTI dissidents were planning to name a new provincial president for the party.

He also accused them of cutting off contact with Afridi — whose role as the chief minister is now non-functional — and his team in the final days of the protest march, paving the way for emergency and governor’s rule in KP.

“Those spreading doubts — the snakes and the serpents — will be defeated,” Raja wrote.

Subsequently, Gandapur took to X to hit back at the secretary general’s claims and, in a series of tweets and audio messages, took strong exception to Raja’s tone and tenor.

Demanding that he bring to an end “the spectacle” that had been made of the party, the former KP CM said that the secretary general had no right to accuse others of conspiracy, or call them names like “snakes and serpents”.

“Do you understand this? We know how to make others understand if they don’t get this,” he said in an angry tone.

Gandapur also accused Raja of “hiding” during the party’s protest movement and wondered why Raja and Gohar did not attend parliamentary party meetings.

“If the parliamentary party of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wants to seek a constitutional and political solution to the current crisis through consultation within itself, who has given a few individuals the authority to label these elected representatives as traitors, conspirators, or undemocratic?” he wrote.

The executive vice president of technology giant Siemens on Saturday met with President Asif Ali Zardari in Berlin and expressed his readiness to enhance support for strengthening existing healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan, the Presidency said.

The meeting took place on the third and final day of President Zardari’s official visit to Germany, which came as the two countries are set to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

According to a statement by President Zardari’s office, he was called on by executives from the health company, including Siemens Executive Vice President Daniel Frisch.

The executive briefed the president on his company’s accomplishments in Pakistan and acknowledged the difference in health services as a positive outcome of the Sindh health department’s “rationally networked steps”.

According to the Presidency, Frisch “expressed his readiness and desire to enhance existing support through innovative solutions and technological applications for strengthening existing healthcare infrastructure of Pakistan”.

“The Siemens delegation told the president that their representatives will soon visit Pakistan to sign MoUs (memoranda of understanding) with their partners in capacity building and technological domains in the health industry of Pakistan,” the Presidency said.

“The delegation told the president that the technological infrastructure cooperation of the company extends to cancer, stroke and other diseases.”

Meanwhile, President Zardari called for the absorption of research-based and technology-driven solutions to improve health services in Pakistan.

He affirmed that Islamabad highly values German industrial, technological and infrastructural support from organisations like Siemens’ health division, which has been present in Pakistan for decades, with over 100 employees in three major cities.

President Zardari expressed appreciation for Siemens’ presence in Pakistan and noted that the “long-awaited mutual desire of expanded and augmented bilateral partnership” between Islamabad and Berlin was affirmed during his meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday.

He also opined that “affordable, yet qualified and highly standardised health service delivery, stays fundamental to enable each and every citizen to realise unhindered potential”.

“We strive for broadened and all-inclusive provision of quality healthcare, particularly for poverty-stricken people in remote areas,” the president was quoted as saying by his office.

President Zardari encouraged Siemens to further engage with Pakistan and diversify its investment across multiple sectors across the country. He also assured the company’s upper echelon of the “fullest institutional cooperation” through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany Salman Sharif and Sindh provincial ministers were also present during the meeting.

‘Significant advancement’ in bilateral ties

Later, President Zardari departed back home from the airport in Berlin, where he was bid farewell by senior German officials and Sharif.

“President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Germany, after a hiatus of more than two decades, marks a significant advancement in the bilateral relations between the two countries,” the Presidency said.

It expressed confidence that the trip will pave the way for further promotion of goodwill and ties between Islamabad and Berlin.

The statement further noted that the high-level meetings between President Zardari and President Steinmeier reflected a “shared commitment to further broadening bilateral relations”.

On Friday, Zardari and his German counterpart discussed bilateral relations, with Steinmeier praising Pakistan’s “rising diplomatic profile in the resolution of regional and global disputes”.

They also discussed challenges related to Afghanistan, with President Zardari stressing that while Pakistan “has no conflict with the Afghan people”, it would not allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan’s citizens and violate its sovereignty.

Steinmeier appreciated Pakistan for facilitating the verification of 500 Afghans “destined to be repatriated to Germany” and also commended its humanitarian assistance to “millions of Afghans” over more than four decades, President Zardari’s office said.

He also took a “significant interest” in the Makkah defence pact signed between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, which is aimed at collective deterrence.

Pakistan and Berlin formally established diplomatic ties on Oct 15, 1951. Both countries remain actively engaged in the areas of economy, defence, education and culture.

Exports to Germany dipped 3.53 per cent to $1.369 billion in the first 10 months of the previous fiscal year (FY2025-26) from $1.419bn in the same period the year prior.

The information ministry on Saturday rebutted the Afghan Taliban’s stance that it lacked the “capabilities” to fuel insecurity in other countries and criticised it for resorting to “diversionary allegations” instead of preventing the use of Afghanistan’s soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.

The ministry’s rebuttal comes after spokesperson for the interim Taliban administration in Afghanistan, Zabiullah Mujahid, said in a statement on X last night that it was not in his country’s “interest to create insecurity in Pakistan or to support any acts of instability there”.

He further contended that the Taliban “do not possess capabilities or resources to foment or finance insecurity in other countries”, and claimed that Islamabad’s “misguided approach distracted Pakistan’s security forces from their own duties”.

On Saturday, the information ministry said the Afghan Taliban “once again resorted to diversionary allegations instead of addressing Pakistan’s legitimate and longstanding security concerns”.

“Pakistan’s concerns are not based on conjecture,” it asserted, adding that the “assertion that Afghanistan lacks either the capacity or the interest to destabilise Pakistan does not address these documented concerns”.

It backed its stance on cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan by citing a report by the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and another report submitted to the United States Congress.

The UNSC team, in its 16th report, “examined the presence and activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan”, the ministry said.

It further noted that the report by the US Lead Inspector General’s Operation Enduring Sentinel for January-March 2026 stated that the Afghan Taliban continued to allow the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory.

The ministry also highlighted other findings from the report, which stated that the Taliban continued to allow TTP “greater liberty and support, resulting in increased TTP attacks against Pakistan”. It added that TTP remained the “largest in number” among those groups.

“The report estimated TTP strength at 4,000–6,000 fighters. These assessments underscore the seriousness of Pakistan’s concerns regarding terrorist sanctuaries and support networks operating from Afghan soil,” the information ministry emphasised.

“Repeated attempts by armed terrorists to infiltrate across Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the killing of Afghan nationals and members of terrorist groups during Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations, and the recovery of foreign-origin weapons from terrorist elements, all warrant serious scrutiny,” the ministry stressed.

It noted that Pakistan had also raised concerns over “alleged facilitation of terrorist groups by Afghan Taliban officials, including officials in Kandahar”. “Such concerns cannot be dismissed through blanket denials; they require credible explanations and verifiable action.”

The ministry further said that “blaming Pakistan’s security institutions does not absolve the [Afghan Taliban] regime of its responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan”.

‘Legitimate security concerns’

The ministry clarified that Pakistan’s “security measures are directed against terrorist threats, not the Afghan people”.

“Attempts to portray Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and necessary defensive measures as hostility towards Afghanistan will neither deflect attention from the issue nor resolve it,” it stressed.

Pointing out that peace and stability were closely linked, it highlighted that Afghan people stand “as much to gain from a region free of terrorism as their Pakistani neighbours”.

“The Afghan Taliban regime must end any tolerance, facilitation or support for terrorist organisations, including TTP, BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) and their affiliates, and ensure that Afghan territory is not used to plan, prepare or launch attacks against Pakistan,” the ministry demanded.

It declared that Islamabad “will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The ministry affirmed that Pakistan “remains open to responsible engagement based on mutual respect, verifiable commitments and concrete action against terrorist sanctuaries, support networks and cross-border infiltration”.

“However, Afghan Taliban regime must understand that peace can only prevail in the region if Pakistan’s core concern of terrorism originating from Afghanistan is verifiably addressed by the Afghan Taliban,” the statement concluded.

Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained in the past few years as Islamabad continues to voice its concern over cross-border terrorism.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

September witnessed another bout of conflict between the two neighbours, with Pakistan carrying out calibrated airstrikes in the border region in response to terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This was followed by drone incursions from across the border, which Islamabad said were shot down, and two further rounds of retaliatory airstrikes.

Pakistan rejects Khalilzad’s allegations of arming Afghans

Earlier in the day, the information ministry rejected former United States envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s “baseless and misleading allegations” that Pakistan was “arming Afghans to fight the Taliban”.

The ministry’s response came a day after Khalilzad, who served as special representative to Afghanistan during the first Trump administration, claimed on X that there were “ many reports that Pakistan is arming Afghans to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan”. He further alleged that Pakistan was now “recruiting Afghans to fight against anti-Pakistan insurgents”, adding that ties between the two countries were likely to “get much worse”.

“His sweeping baseless assertions merely recycle speculative narratives as part of his personal agenda to prop [the] terrorism-supporting Taliban regime,” the information ministry’s fact-check account said on X.

It rebuked Khalilzad, saying his “[peddling] of such unsubstantiated allegations only exposes his skewed agenda-based views”.

The ministry highlighted that it was “particularly misleading to conflate Pakistan’s legitimate counterterrorism operations against terrorist organisations operating from inside Afghan Taliban regime-controlled areas threatening its citizens with allegations of recruiting Afghan nationals or sponsoring armed groups inside Afghanistan”.

“Pakistan remains at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and has made enormous sacrifices in protecting regional peace and security,” it emphasised.

It went on to point out that successive monitoring reports issued by the United Nations had documented the continued presence and activities of terrorist organisations, including the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, inside Afghanistan.

“Khalilzad’s allegations conveniently divert attention from the Afghan Taliban regime’s responsibility to prevent its territory from being used by India-sponsored proxies for terrorism against Pakistan,” the statement added.

Khalilzad, who negotiated a US deal with the Taliban that led to the withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan, has previously called for Islamabad and Kabul to enter a negotiated settlement multiple times, as recently as January this year.

In November last year, the information ministry criticised Khalilzad for “creating a false impression” of the militant group Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) having a presence in Punjab.

The ex-US envoy had claimed an IS-K commander was killed in Punjab’s Akhtarabad. The ministry later clarified that a man had been killed during a dacoity/robbery-related incident, not a counterterrorism operation, and that there was no evidence linking him to IS-K.

In March 2023, the Foreign Office (FO) reacted strongly to a series of suggestions made by Khalilzad, saying Pakistan did not need “unsolicited advice” on the challenges it faces.

That statement by Khalilzad also prompted the US State Department to clarify that the former envoy did not represent the country’s foreign policy and did not speak for the administration of then-president Joe Biden.

Pakistan and other countries have called for dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation to resolve regional conflicts, reaffirming their commitment to efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability, according to a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday.

The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia (R4), along with their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, met in Istanbul on Oct 23.

“The ministers discussed various issues of regional and international importance, namely the US-Israel-Iran conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need for a negotiated two-state solution, the appalling Houthi militia attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Yemen, safety and freedom of navigation, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and the Black Sea,” the Joint statement said.

“They expressed their commitment to continue contributing towards diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond, and addressing the security, economic and trade implications of these issues,” it added.

The ministers agreed on the “urgent need” to address regional conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation. In accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, they emphasised the need to find lasting, negotiated solutions to all outstanding conflicts.

“The ministers agreed to continue the dialogue in this format with a view to preventing conflicts and advancing peace and stability in the region,” the statement concludes.

The R4 group, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, emerged in March and has been focusing on regional security and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.

A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the sixth R4 foreign ministers’ meeting with his Turkish, Egyptian and Saudi counterparts, where they reviewed developments in the Middle East and discussed regional security challenges and conflicts.

Pakistan has strongly condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” on a funeral procession at a church in Jordan’s Karak Governorate, reiterating its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Gunmen killed at least seven people and wounded dozens at a church in southern Jordan on Friday. According to reports, the assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak Governorate and opened fire.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Pakistan extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, particularly the bereaved families, and expressed its wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured.

“Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with the brotherly people of Jordan in their fight against terrorism, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, the statement added.

The incident occurred when gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said in a statement, adding that a manhunt was under way for the perpetrators.

“The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation,” King Abdullah II said in a post on X.

“We will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.” According to images from state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka, the king arrived in Karak on Friday evening.

After authorities gave a death toll of six, Director of Public Security Major General Abdullah Al-Maaytah said it had risen to seven with 34 injured, 27 of whom were still receiving treatment.

Footage aired by Al-Mamlaka showed two gunmen dressed in casual clothes and brandishing pistols, with a third carrying a long gun as they opened fire on the church.

A witness said the gunmen fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing. Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification processes for the Makkah defence pact while Turkiye was in the process of doing so, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

The pact has gained significance amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said earlier this week that Pakistan was providing “whatever support is needed” to defend the kingdom.

Prior to that, the FO had emphasised that signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and committing military capabilities under it were executive functions under Pakistan’s national laws and Rules of Business and did not necessarily require parliamentary approval.

Answering questions after the weekly press briefing, the FO spokesperson said that “matters related to the agreement, its ratification and operationalisation remain under discussion by the three parties”.

This included discussions during the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, which recently met on Oct 5, he added.

“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthening collective defence and cooperation for regional security and stability,” Khan said.

He further noted that each country followed its own constitutional and legal procedures to approve and ratify international agreements.

“Pakistan and [the] Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,” he said.

Turkiye submitted the Makkah defence pact to its parliament for ratification earlier this week.

The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s continued commitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, which he said “is defensive in nature, consistent with the UN Charter, and aimed at promoting regional peace, security and stability”.

Answering a follow-up question regarding Article 2 of the pact, which states that an attack on one party would be considered an attack against all parties, Khan stressed again that the agreement was “essentially defensive in nature” and consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides the right to self-defence”.

“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties, primarily to strengthening collective defence, deterrence, and regional stability,” he said.

He added, “It is not directed against any particular country. It provides a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any party.”

According to Khan, the “nature and extent” of any such assistance would be determined collectively by the three countries as the situation arose, “following an objective assessment of the circumstances”.

To another question, he clarified that there were “no hidden provisions” in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

“We endorse the text released in the media from the Turkish Parliament. There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles,” he said.

Regarding the potential invocation of the agreement in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson reiterated that “This matter has to be decided by the three partner countries in accordance with the agreement.”

He also expressed Pakistan’s concern over the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its implications for regional peace and security.

“Our position has been clear and consistent,” Khan said. “We support Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and believe that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and a negotiated political settlement … At the same time, we unequivocally condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.”

He stressed that Pakistan remained supportive of any meaningful diplomatic engagement that could contribute to “ending hostilities and achieving a durable political settlement”.

Earlier this month, the FO said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom, following an emergency meeting of the SPDC formed under their joint defence agreement in Riyadh.

While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the Yemen conflict.

The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive in September.