The federal government and its allies sharply criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday for his recent remarks about leading peace talks with Afghanistan. They accused Gandapur of overstepping his authority by suggesting that he could unilaterally handle negotiations with the Afghan Taliban.
In a speech at KP House, Gandapur condemned what he called the “rule of repression” based on personal vendettas and stubbornness. He declared his intention to tackle the militancy issue in his province head-on, including sending a delegation to Kabul to engage with the Afghan Taliban in a bid to secure peace for KP.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned Gandapur’s plan, labeling it a “direct attack on the federation.”
Asif argued that no provincial leader has the authority to conduct direct talks with a foreign country and criticized Gandapur’s stance as detrimental to Pakistan. Senior PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also expressed disapproval, calling Gandapur’s comments “frivolous” and underscoring the primacy of the federation over individual provincial interests.
Militancy remains a significant issue in KP, with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) increasing attacks on security forces. A recent security report noted that KP and Balochistan accounted for over 90% of terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan in 2023.
Following his controversial speech, Gandapur met with Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shaki in Peshawar to discuss mutual trade, regional peace, and the challenges faced by Afghan citizens in the province.
Gandapur highlighted shared cultural and human ties between the people of KP and Afghanistan, stressing the need for serious efforts towards lasting regional peace.
Gandapur had also made headlines for his claims about false police reports filed against him.
However, Prime Minister’s aide Rana Sanaullah denied the existence of any FIRs against the Chief Minister, suggesting that if Gandapur had legal grievances, he should address them through the courts rather than making public statements.
PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa defended Gandapur, emphasizing the historical and cultural connections between KP and Afghanistan and criticizing the current government for its handling of cross-border relations.
Khosa argued that the Chief Minister’s comments reflect the real issues faced by KP due to cross-border terrorism and lamented the deteriorating relations with Afghanistan.
