Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah warned on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad. His warning came after government-opposition talks ended without agreement, with the two sides divided over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's refusal to assure cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
"The long march will not be allowed to enter the limits of Islamabad," Sanaullah said, adding that any attempt to create disorder would be stopped using the force of law. Speaking after PTI announced its long march towards Islamabad, Sanaullah said the government had amended the draft agreement two or three times, but the provincial government was still unwilling to play its role in counterterrorism operations.
Sanaullah said the federal government could not retreat from the fight against terrorism. "There can be no retreat from the war against terrorism," he said. The adviser noted that the government remained willing to resume talks if PTI and the KP government were prepared to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
The breakdown came after government and opposition negotiators had appeared close to an agreement, with sources saying around 95% of the issues under discussion had been resolved. Sanaullah reiterated that the administration remains open to dialogue if the provincial setup commits sincerely to national security objectives.