Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM says the Center now wants to speak with Kabul

Pakistan: According to Dawn, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur blasted the federal government on Sunday for rejecting his previous suggestion for direct negotiations with the Afghan interim administration and then continuing with the same course of action.

Gandapur, who was speaking in the Chief Minister’s House, was frustrated that his request for talks had been turned down and that his remarks had been misconstrued.

The Chief Minister emphasized that without talking to Afghanistan, KP, a province that is directly impacted by the border situation, could not address its law and order problems. “When they disagreed earlier, I was compelled to speak out because KP is the province bearing the brunt of these issues,” he said.

Gandapur went on to say that the federal administration had now come to him and acknowledged the need for talks with Kabul to resolve the issues, but he was doubtful of their sincerity.

Gandapur emphasized that any conversation aimed at improving the security situation in KP must involve Afghanistan. With an estimated 16,000 to 18,000 terrorists operating in Pakistan and 22,000 to 24,000 on the Afghan side, he pointed out that there were sizable numbers of militants in both Pakistan and Afghanistan across the border.

Gandapur said that once terrorists entered Afghanistan, they were out of Pakistan’s grasp, making it more difficult to properly address the problem, Dawn said.

Given Afghanistan’s history of resistance against foreign powers like the US and the USSR, the chief minister emphasized the need of avoiding conflict with the nation. He also pointed out that a number of foreign players continued to operate in Afghanistan, which added to the region’s continued volatility, and criticized the Afghan interim government for failing to preserve peace inside its own boundaries.

Gandapur recognized the sacrifices made by people in KP, especially those who lived in regions where terrorist activity was most prevalent. “KP has been on the frontline, stopping militants from moving beyond the province,” he stated, alluding to recent militant strikes in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Additionally, he reaffirmed the political significance of the province for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emphasizing that KP will remain the focal point of political campaigns.

Gandapur criticized the federal government’s handling of the PTI’s recent rallies, namely the use of force against unarmed demonstrators calling for the reinstatement of their mandate and the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Regarding the PTI’s call for civil disobedience, Gandapur acknowledged that the party’s founder had given the order, but he also said that “things were not clear as yet.” “Once there’s clarity, God willing, we will do it,” he said. According to Dawn, there are rumors that the campaign’s first phase will include asking Pakistanis living abroad to cut down on their remittances.

Regarding law enforcement in KP, Gandapur pointed out that police officers have taken the place of military soldiers in a number of areas, and they are essential to preserving security. Although he recognized the difficulties in the province’s southern regions, he gave his word that great strides had been achieved in bolstering the police force, supplying improved gear, and bringing the government into formerly unruly areas.