ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan responsible for facilitating the return and resettlement of terrorists from Afghanistan in Swat during his tenure, saying the move contributed to a resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan.
Speaking at a gathering on Saturday, Shehbaz Sharif said the decision to bring terrorists back from Afghanistan had been taken during the PTI government’s tenure and had serious consequences for the country’s security and economy.
He also criticised the then PTI-led provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for ignoring the potential repercussions of allowing terrorists to return and resettle in the province.
He also defended his government’s decision to impose governor’s rule and a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The issue of the return of terrorists from Afghanistan to Pakistan had also surfaced in 2022, when reports emerged that several members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had returned to different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, following peace negotiations between the terrorist group and the Pakistani government.
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The return of TTP terrorists to parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained a major security concern for Pakistan, particularly in the border districts where terrorist attacks have threatened civilian lives, law enforcement personnel and development activities.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan, arguing that lasting regional stability requires effective action against cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan maintains that the presence of terrorist sanctuaries across the border poses a serious threat to its national security and regional peace.
