Pakistan's government has decided to expand the scope of intelligence-based operations against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after a high-level security review chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting, held in Islamabad on Tuesday 4 November, reviewed the law and order situation in 12 districts of the province.

According to sources cited by The News, the meeting decided to widen intelligence-based operations and improve coordination among federal and provincial institutions and law enforcement agencies. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi briefed the meeting on measures taken by government departments, and the performance of the Area Representative and Development Council was reviewed.

Rs160bn package reviewed

The meeting also reviewed progress on the federal government's Rs160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The prime minister said durable peace and the protection of citizens' lives and property were national priorities, and that the federal government would extend all possible cooperation to the province.

Those attending included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, the KP governor and chief secretary, and senior military officials. The prime minister directed institutions to work under a unified strategy to establish peace and eliminate terrorism.

The decision comes days after the military's spokesman said about 200 intelligence-based operations were being carried out every day across the country. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Reuters on 2 November that the strategy also targeted militant enablers inside Pakistan, and that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had suffered the most from terrorism.