Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called for a major change in the federal government’s counterterrorism policy, saying the approach followed for the past 22 years has failed to deliver lasting peace in the province.
Addressing a law-and-order meeting in Peshawar, Afridi said merely providing additional resources would not resolve the crisis and insisted that the federal government must consult provincial stakeholders, the administration and police before formulating a new strategy. He said his proposed policy could restore peace in KP within 100 days.
Afridi said he would not change his position because of threats of Governor’s Rule or a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“I curse any position of power that would force me to abandon my principles,” he said, adding that he would not back down from his stance.
The chief minister said no one could go against the public mandate and argued that threats against the provincial government would not resolve the province’s security problems.
Calls for policy shift
Afridi said the federal government must bring about a policy shift after taking all relevant stakeholders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into confidence. He said the counterterrorism policy in place for 22 years had failed to establish lasting peace and claimed that implementing the policy proposed by his government could restore peace within 100 days.
“Merely providing resources will not solve the problem,” Afridi said, arguing that a new strategy was required rather than simply increasing funding or equipment.
He accused the federal government of promoting what he described as false narratives instead of changing its approach. He also criticised what he called a dual policy, alleging that some groups were treated as “favourites” while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced a different standard.
Afridi highlights sacrifices in KP
The chief minister said the people, police and armed forces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made immense sacrifices for peace.
He claimed that more than 80,000 people from the province had sacrificed their lives for the country, and said the peace achieved through two decades of sacrifices had been squandered, resulting in a resurgence of unrest.
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Afridi said his government had repeatedly warned the federal authorities about the return and resettlement of terrorists. He said the provincial leadership had organised rallies and processions in different districts to raise concerns about the renewed instability.
According to Afridi, those warnings were dismissed by the federal government as propaganda and lies. He said the provincial government had repeatedly warned that the state’s existing policy was flawed and could once again lead to the loss of Pashtun lives.
Criticism of ‘dual policy’
Afridi alleged that the people of KP were being used as subjects of experiments driven by a particular mindset. He said soldiers, police personnel and civilians were continuing to fall victim to terrorism, adding that no one appeared to care about the bloodshed and sacrifices of the people of the province.
The chief minister also criticised ministers for allegedly labelling the people of KP as terrorists while, in his view, failing to take similar action against others. He said a dual policy — one for alleged “favourites” and another for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — was unacceptable.
Afridi also questioned statements attributed to the Punjab chief minister suggesting there was no threat from India but rather from three Pakistani provinces. He said those who contradicted the state narrative on India should also be questioned.
KP cites increased police resources
Afridi defended his government’s record on policing and said Rs35 billion had been diverted from the development budget and allocated to the police to help improve security. He said resources had been provided to strengthen police capacity and claimed the police budget had increased by 103%.
The chief minister also said additional personnel had been deployed, the Special Branch strengthened, and modern weapons and equipment supplied to the police. However, he maintained that resources alone could not resolve the security crisis and reiterated his demand for a new federal policy.
Afridi called for a fresh strategy to be formulated after taking the provincial administration, police and other stakeholders into confidence.
Tarar says emergency discussion premature
Meanwhile, speaking to the media at Parliament House, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said it would be premature to give a definitive opinion on the possibility of imposing an emergency or Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tarar said no final decision or conclusion could yet be reached regarding possible administrative changes, adding that discussion of an emergency was not based on any concrete information. He said “time will tell” what happens next.
The federal minister nevertheless placed responsibility for the deteriorating security situation on the KP government, alleging that the provincial administration had completely failed to curb terrorism. These are Tarar’s allegations, which the KP government disputes.
The minister said Afridi had become politically weak and alleged that he had recently approached former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur for assistance, despite previously referring to Gandapur as a “tout”. Tarar said Afridi was attempting to protect his political reputation.
Back-channel contacts with PTI confirmed
Tarar also confirmed that back-channel communication with PTI was continuing. He said contacts over the proposed sit-in had been active and questioned what issue now remained to be resolved. The minister used an analogy, saying that the PTI could not identify the “ailment” but still wanted to take the “patient” to hospital for treatment.
Tarar also said he did not expect PTI to come to Islamabad on October 4, claiming that the party had not made preparations. PTI has, however, continued to discuss the October 4 mobilisation, while Afridi has said the party remains prepared.
The federal minister concluded by saying the situation would become clearer with time.
