Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi agreed on Sunday to play his constitutional role if the president and prime minister deem governor's rule or an emergency necessary in the province. The development came during a meeting between Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Governor House in Peshawar following the collapse of government-opposition negotiations.

The talks aimed at averting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's October 4 long march on Islamabad broke down on Sunday morning after three rounds between the ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa party and a delegation from the government and Pakistan Peoples Party. Naqvi blamed the provincial leadership for sabotaging the negotiations.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja countered that the talks failed because the federal government insisted the province must unilaterally own Centre-initiated counter-terrorism actions. During their meeting, Kundi and Naqvi discussed the political and security situation, pledging to protect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from terrorism and destruction while expressing concern over worsening law and order.

They also noted that using official helicopters and government resources during political demonstrations violates court decisions. The official statement reiterated that the Governor House will fulfill its constitutional duties if President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif consider an emergency necessary.

Additionally, sources reported that the provincial police chief briefed Naqvi on regional security and confirmed the police force is on high alert. Unnecessary police personnel across various districts have been recalled to police lines as part of a strategy to mobilize forces immediately during an emergency.