ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Senior journalist and analyst Shahzad Iqbal has said authorities expect improvements in counterterrorism and governance in the coming weeks and months, although they have not set a specific deadline for achieving these goals.
Speaking about his discussions with people in positions of power, Iqbal said officials viewed the current challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as complex, involving both security concerns and governance issues.
He said he had asked officials how long the current setup would remain in place, given the absence of a clear timeframe for improving the situation. According to Iqbal, they explained that the nature of the challenges made it difficult to set a definite deadline but expressed hope for gradual progress.
Officials reportedly expect terrorist attacks to decline and governance to improve as the authorities implement their planned measures.
Iqbal said officials also pointed to what they described as the previous KP government’s failure to take effective action against militants and its limited cooperation with the federal government as major obstacles to counterterrorism efforts.
He added that the authorities were looking to address links between terrorism, organised crime and drug networks. Their priorities also include tackling non-custom-paid vehicles and implementing the policy for repatriating Afghan nationals.
According to Iqbal, the government is also focusing on strengthening the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), activating counterterrorism support mechanisms and improving the accuracy of public information about terrorist incidents.
He said the coming weeks would be crucial in determining whether these measures produce visible improvements in security and governance across the province.
