ISLAMABAD: The federal government has reportedly initiated indirect contact with opposition alliance leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai ahead of possible formal negotiations aimed at easing the country’s ongoing political tensions, according to sources.
Sources familiar with the development said that a message was conveyed to Mahmood Khan Achakzai through a mutual acquaintance on behalf of a federal minister. The message indicated that the government is currently holding internal consultations with its coalition partners before formally launching talks with the opposition.
The move is being seen as a potential step toward political dialogue at a time when tensions between the government and opposition parties remain high. According to opposition sources, once the ruling coalition completes consultations with its allied parties, official engagement with the opposition alliance is expected to begin.
A senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the government’s outreach and internal discussions suggest a level of seriousness regarding negotiations. However, opposition figures remain cautious, noting that previous attempts at dialogue have failed due to a lack of trust and clarity on key issues.
Meanwhile, government sources revealed that the Speaker of the National Assembly has also been in contact with Mahmood Khan Achakzai concerning the formal notification of the Leader of the Opposition. Sources added that Achakzai is expected to submit the required documents to the Speaker today, which would pave the way for the official notification of the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
The political climate further heated up after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made strong remarks regarding PTI’s stance on negotiations. Speaking to a news channel Khabar, Khawaja Asif accused PTI founder Imran Khan of seeking talks only with the establishment rather than engaging politically with the government.
Khawaja Asif said that despite being a vocal critic of PTI, he would still be willing to sit at the negotiating table if the party genuinely wanted dialogue. However, he alleged that PTI was following a dual policy, publicly calling for talks while privately avoiding meaningful political engagement.
The defence minister added that progress in negotiations would only be possible if PTI openly aligned itself with the state on national matters, including counter-terrorism and broader security issues. He stressed that political dialogue should strengthen democratic institutions rather than undermine them.
As Pakistan faces economic challenges and security concerns, analysts believe that meaningful political dialogue between the government and opposition is crucial for stability. Whether the recent contacts lead to formal negotiations remains to be seen, but the developments suggest renewed efforts to break the political deadlock.
