Pakistan’s Emergency Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Raises Concerns Over Army Control of Mineral Wealth

Pakistan’s decision to impose emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and authorise the deployment of troops in the province has triggered concerns that the move could give Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir greater control over the region’s administration and mineral resources.

While Islamabad has cited the deteriorating law and order situation and alleged a lack of cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, observers quoted in the report view the decision as an attempt by Pakistan’s military establishment to expand its influence over the mineral-rich province.

According to officials cited in the report, the federal government was initially reluctant to take the step, with considerable deliberations before Munir’s position ultimately prevailed.

One official attributed the army chief’s insistence to two factors: bringing a province governed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party founded by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, under greater federal and military influence, and securing control over the region’s valuable mineral resources.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and PTI leader Sohail Afridi has opposed direct army control over the province’s mines and minerals.

According to officials cited in the report, a major source of public resentment is the perception that revenues generated from the region’s mineral wealth do not benefit local communities.

“Instead, the proceeds are diverted to Islamabad, Karachi and Rawalpindi, allowing the powerful to benefit from the region’s wealth while its people continue to remain underprivileged,” one official said.

Another official claimed that the PTI-led provincial government’s opposition to direct military involvement in the mining sector had become an obstacle for the establishment.

The official argued that emergency and Governor’s rule, combined with authorisation for army deployment, could reduce resistance to military involvement in the management of the province’s mineral resources.

The prevailing situation is also expected to strengthen the authority of KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in decisions concerning the province’s mines and minerals, as well as the deployment of security forces.

Kundi is described in the report as a close ally of Munir. The PTI has strongly opposed his appointment, calling it illegitimate, unconstitutional and politically motivated.

With Kundi in the governor’s office, the military establishment could gain greater influence over the province’s affairs, according to the assessment cited in the report. Decisions on troop deployment and mineral resource management are among the areas where the governor’s role could become significant.

The federal government, however, has maintained that emergency and Governor’s rule were necessary because of worsening security conditions. It has accused the provincial government of failing to cooperate adequately with counter-terrorism operations.

The move could also carry significant security risks, the report warns.

An official cited in the report said that efforts to establish greater control over mines and minerals could provoke insurgent groups operating in the region and lead to an escalation in attacks against the military establishment.

The development therefore presents a potential challenge for Islamabad: while the federal government and military could seek greater control over KP’s administration and resources, resistance from local political forces and armed groups could complicate implementation.