Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zahid Khan criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for prioritizing his march to Islamabad over visiting Kurram, where over 41 people were killed in a violent attack. Speaking on Rubaroo aired on Aaj News, Zahid questioned why Gandapur, despite hailing from Dera Ismail Khan, chose not to visit Kurram, a region within his proximity.
The attack occurred on November 21, when unidentified assailants fired at passenger vans traveling to Peshawar from Parachinar, leaving more than 40 dead, including women. Subsequent clashes caused further casualties and property destruction. A government-brokered seven-day truce failed, leading local tribal elders to negotiate a renewed ceasefire, which was expected to take effect soon.
Zahid attributed the violence to the spillover of the Afghan conflict, highlighting the link between the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban. He lamented the lack of proactive government measures to prevent such attacks, warning that neglecting the region could exacerbate the situation.
Retired Major General Tariq Rashid, a defense analyst on the show, emphasized the importance of prioritizing anti-terrorism efforts. He called for legislation to penalize terrorist sympathizers and stressed the need for unified military, police, and law enforcement operations. Rashid also highlighted the role of elected leaders in fostering collaboration between civilian and military entities.
PML-N Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani underscored the necessity of collective efforts against terrorism, rejecting the notion that the violence stemmed from religious conflicts. On Balochistan, Rashid noted the challenges posed by underdeveloped infrastructure and called for connecting remote areas to urban centers for sustainable progress.
Zahid concluded that military operations alone would not succeed without the backing and ownership of the civilian government.
