ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday urged political parties to set aside their differences and unite against terrorism, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of refusing to endorse the ongoing counterterrorism operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during negotiations with the government. Addressing the Senate, Sanaullah said counterterrorism required a unified national response and criticised the PTI leadership for what he described as its unwillingness to support the security operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Set aside all other matters and unite on the issue of terrorism,” he urged political leaders, arguing that political differences should not come in the way of the fight against militancy. Sanaullah said that security personnel continued to sacrifice their lives in the fight against terrorism, citing the recent death of an army major. He said the sacrifices of soldiers and their families demanded a collective response from the political leadership. The remarks come amid escalating tensions between the federal government and the PTI over counterterrorism policy, political negotiations and the future of governance in KP, where the federal government has imposed the governor’s rule. The federal government has accused the former PTI-led provincial government of failing to cooperate adequately in the fight against militancy, while the party has challenged the government’s emergency measures in court. Sanaullah said that the government had attempted to resolve political disputes through negotiations but alleged that the PTI had repeatedly backed away from understandings reached during talks. The adviser also referred to discussions with PTI leaders concerning meetings with the party’s founder, Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023. He said the government had proposed resolving issues related to meetings and other concerns through a political committee comprising representatives from both sides. Sanaullah alleged that the PTI had refused to sign an agreement committing it to support the ongoing counterterrorism operation. He argued that the dispute over this commitment had undermined efforts to reach a broader political understanding. Referring to meetings of provincial apex committees, which bring together civilian and security officials to discuss security matters, Sanaullah said PTI representatives had not attended meetings in KP in the same manner as officials in other provinces. He also criticised the party’s approach to discussions with the federal government. He said the federal government had sought cooperation from the KP leadership on security matters, adding that political disagreements should not prevent coordination between the Centre and the provinces.