PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday emphasized the importance of involving the provincial government in the development of counter-terrorism strategies.
During a convocation ceremony at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University in Peshawar, CM Afridi stated, “If you truly aim to eradicate terrorism, then collaborate with us to formulate the policies.”
His comments followed a day after ISPR Director-General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry sharply criticized PTI leadership in KP, attributing the rise in terrorism to their policies.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister stressed that anti-terror operations should be conducted transparently and with the confidence of the nation. He acknowledged the peace achieved after significant sacrifices but criticized “closed-door decisions” that have once again burdened the local population.
The PTI-backed CM reaffirmed the sacrifices made by KP’s people and expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s compensation measures for those whose homes were destroyed during the fight against terrorism.
He called for a new, inclusive approach to counter-terrorism, advocating for policy formulation in consultation with KP’s government, tribal elders, and other stakeholders.
A recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies highlighted that KP saw the highest increase in violence, with fatalities jumping from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025—an increase of over 40% year-on-year.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry, a day earlier, pointed out that nearly 71% of terrorist incidents in 2025 occurred in KP. He blamed this surge on a “politically conducive environment” and the growth of a nexus between politics, crime, and terrorism in the region.
The military spokesperson also criticized KP CM Afridi’s stance on negotiations and dismissed calls for security guarantees from Afghanistan, questioning opposition to military operations.
Chaudhry further criticized PTI’s narrative in assemblies, questioning whether the army was deployed to KP “with shovels to mine minerals,” and asked whether leaders like Noor Wali Mehsud should be made the province’s chief minister and pledge allegiance to him.
He reiterated that seeking assurances from groups accused of harboring terrorists was illogical, emphasizing that effective counterterrorism requires firm state action rather than political hesitation.
On governance issues, the DG linked illegal mining activities in KP to the proliferation of illegal weapons and suggested that these factors directly contribute to ongoing violence and terrorism in the region.
