Naqvi snubs Gandapur, says all resources will be used against terrorists

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday hit back at criticism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, assuring that all available resources would be used in the fight against terrorism.

His remarks came in response to Gandapur's objection to Naqvi’s recent visit to Afghanistan and broader concerns over federal policy in the province.

Naqvi, currently in Dhaka for the Asian Cricket Council meeting, delivered a brief but pointed response on X (formerly Twitter): “All resources will be used against terrorists.”

In a separate post, he raised a provocative question, asking: “How much money is an important provincial official paying to the Taliban in Dera Ismail Khan?”

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Gandapur reiterated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s long-standing stance—originally championed by its founder, Imran Khan—stating that neither military operations nor drone strikes would be permitted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also accused Naqvi of lacking an understanding of the province’s security and political dynamics.

Gandapur criticized the federal government for excluding his administration from discussions, specifically pointing to separate visits to Kabul by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Naqvi without prior consultation with the KP government.

The exchange highlights deepening tensions between the federal and provincial governments over counterterrorism strategy and coordination with Afghanistan.