What happened
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad on 4 February 2026 and reiterated the government’s firm resolve, with the support of all provinces, relevant institutions and the people, to completely eradicate terrorism from the country. The Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the prime minister told the cabinet the government was united in its determination to ensure peace, security and stability, particularly in the wake of recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan.
The cabinet offered Fateha for the eternal peace of the citizens, security personnel and law enforcement officials martyred in the recent attack, as well as for the late president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood.
Kashmir solidarity and provincial coordination
Addressing the cabinet, Shehbaz Sharif conveyed the solidarity of the government and the entire nation with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the just cause of the Kashmiri people. He also referred to his recent meeting with the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as positive, and underscored the importance of close cooperation and harmony between the federation and the provinces.
Decisions and directives
The cabinet accorded principled approval to the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee at its meeting on 3 February 2026. It also approved the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises from its meeting on 9 January 2026, and those of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases from its meeting on 29 January 2026.
Issuing special directives, the prime minister stressed that heads of all government institutions must ensure complete and accurate facts are presented in summaries submitted to the cabinet and its sub-committees after thorough scrutiny. He further directed that authorised officers personally attend these meetings to support informed decision-making.
Why it matters
The session tied the government’s counter-terrorism response to the recent Balochistan violence while covering routine economic and legislative business. The prime minister informed the cabinet about Pakistan’s decision, in solidarity with Bangladesh, not to play a bilateral match against India in the T20 World Cup, and briefed members on Pakistan’s relations with brotherly countries, highlighting the recent visit of the president of Kazakhstan and the forthcoming visit of the president of Uzbekistan.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to national unity, enhanced inter-provincial coordination and sustained efforts to achieve peace, economic stability and progress across the country.
What is still uncertain
The cabinet’s statements did not include a new operational plan, casualty breakdown or timeline for the counter-terrorism effort, and the approved committee decisions were described only in general terms. The specifics of the ECC, state-owned enterprise and legislative decisions were not set out in the report.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of a published report, not eyewitness coverage. The source was reviewed on 4 February 2026.
- Associated Press of Pakistan — "PM chairs federal cabinet meeting, reaffirms resolve to eliminate terrorism"Published 4 February 2026 · Primary report for the cabinet meeting, the Fateha, the Kashmir Solidarity Day message, the committee approvals and the prime minister's directives.
