ISLAMABAD, Oct. 11 -- The federal cabinet has decided in principle to consider imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the provincial government will be given another opportunity to cooperate with federal authorities in combating terrorism before any final decision is implemented, according to government sources.

The decision was taken during an important meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where cabinet members expressed serious concerns over the province's deteriorating security situation. The meeting reviewed rising terrorist attacks, governance challenges and the performance of security institutions.

According to government sources, participants raised concerns about what they described as the KP governme...