K-P CM's call to talk with Afghanistan an attack on federation: Defence Minister

'Foreign policy is strictly within the federal govt’s domain, any provincial involvement could lead to instability'

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly condemned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s announcement to hold direct talks with Afghanistan, labelling it as an attack on the federation.

Addressing the National Assembly, Asif stated that no province has the authority to conduct foreign negotiations independently, calling the move a "direct assault on the federation."

“This is a dangerous path that KP's leadership is walking, one that could have severe consequences for their own party,” said Asif.

He emphasised that foreign policy is strictly within the federal government’s domain, and any provincial involvement could lead to instability.

In his remarks, the defence minister also reflected on previous instances of political oppression, mentioning how key political figures, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maryam Nawaz, had been targeted during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

He criticised the authoritarian practices of the former government, recalling how even meetings at Speaker Asad Qaiser’s residence were monitored by intelligence agencies.

Asif concluded by urging the current assembly to uphold the traditions established by previous National Assembly speakers like Ayaz Sadiq and avoid the controversial practices set by his predecessors.

Earlier, Chief Minister Gandapur expressed his determination to address the growing militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by announcing plans to send a delegation to Kabul for talks with the Afghan Taliban to seek their assistance in restoring peace to the province.

Speaking at KP House to a gathering of lawyers, ministers, parliamentarians, and bar council representatives, Gandapur criticised the military establishment, implying their policies were ineffective in tackling the issue.

He emphasised his personal commitment to resolving the situation through dialogue with Afghanistan, citing shared cultural ties and the 1,200 km border.

He raised concerns over the increasing militancy and the public’s declining trust in law enforcement, expressing frustration at the lack of action despite raising the issue previously.