Naqvi: PTI Government Talks Collapsed After Nine Commitments Dropped

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that the PTI government talks collapsed because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government backed out of nine agreed commitments at the final stage.

Naqvi released the details of the nine points in a post on X, arguing that the breakdown of negotiations was the result of the provincial government’s retreat from positions it had already accepted. The two sides have been negotiating ahead of the PTI’s planned protest march, which the party wants to use to press its demands.

According to Naqvi, the KP government had agreed to sign a written agreement and submit an implementation plan within 72 hours. He said the province withdrew from the commitments during the final stage of the talks.

The nine commitments in dispute

The proposed agreement covered a wide range of security and governance matters:

• The KP government would reconsider the Police Act 2026 in view of the security situation, and keep security matters free from political interference.
• It would prevent terrorists from operating freely in the province or finding safe havens there.
• It would clearly condemn the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan and other terrorist groups.
• It would support the national policy on Afghan refugees, including their repatriation and the dismantling of Afghan camps in the province.
• It would have no contact with the interim Afghan government.
• It would provide substantial funding for counterterrorism operations and the police.
• It would take full responsibility for counterterrorism measures and strengthen cooperation with the armed forces.
• Counterterrorism decisions in the former FATA and the merged districts would follow the agreed framework.
• The province would implement the National Action Plan.

Naqvi said security matters should not be politicised while the province was facing a war against terrorism.

Afridi holds his ground

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi shared his own seven-point draft with the government side and sought assurances that would allow the march to be called off. He also objected to what he described as the province’s treatment as second-class citizens.

Afridi further asked for the release of Imran Khan’s sisters before any agreement could be finalised, according to reports of the talks. The PTI founder’s sisters have been in detention, and their release has become one of the party’s demands at the negotiating table.

The march plan stays in place

While the talks continued in Islamabad, Afridi announced a detailed five-day march plan. The protest is to begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat and move through Karak, Kohat, Peshawar and Charsadda, with supporters eventually gathering at Khairabad. The party has framed the march as a constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Government leaders have pressed the PTI to call off the march to create space for continued negotiations. The PTI political committee has reportedly weighed postponing the march rather than cancelling it outright if the talks keep moving.

What happens next in the PTI government talks

With the two sides publicly blaming each other, the immediate question is whether a third round of talks can salvage an agreement. The government wants a signed written commitment on the security points. The PTI wants concrete steps on its demands, including the release of detained family members of its founder, before it stands down its marchers.

Related

• Centre seriously considering emergency in KP, minister says
• Shehbaz Sharif to meet allies as PTI standoff deepens
• Sohail Afridi unveils five-day march plan to reach Peshawar by Oct 8
• Cousin says Imran Khan’s sisters on hunger strike for two days

Frequently asked questions

Why did the PTI government talks fail?

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says the KP government backed out of nine agreed commitments at the final stage, including the Police Act 2026, condemnation of the TTP and TTA, and support for the national Afghan refugee policy.

What were the nine commitments?

They covered reconsidering the Police Act 2026, keeping security matters free of political interference, denying terrorists safe havens, condemning the TTP and TTA, supporting Afghan refugee repatriation, no contact with the interim Afghan government, funding counterterrorism, taking responsibility for security, and implementing the National Action Plan.

What is the KP government’s position?

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi shared a seven-point draft, sought assurances to call off the march, and asked for the release of Imran Khan’s sisters before finalising any agreement.

Is the PTI march still happening?

Afridi has kept the five-day march plan in place, starting from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. The party’s political committee has considered postponing rather than cancelling it if negotiations continue.