Afghanistan responsible for K-P security situation

Highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in the province - especially in the newly merged districts, Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur attributed it directly to the security situation in neighboring Afghanistan.

He made these remarks during his meeting with British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, at his office on Tuesday. They discussed the matters of mutual interest, particularly the role of British donor agencies in public welfare initiatives, regional security, and other relevant issues.

During the meeting with British HC, Gandapur stressed the need for serious and result-oriented efforts to find a sustainable solution to this longstanding issue, warning that if the security challenges in the merged districts are not addressed promptly, they could escalate and affect the entire country.

He further informed the British envoy that the provincial government had formed a Jirga to initiate dialogue with Afghan counterparts, and all necessary preparations for sending the delegation were complete.

However, since the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the KP administration is awaiting approval of the terms of reference (TORs) for the negotiations, said the K-P CM. He emphasized that lasting peace in the region was not just in Pakistan's interest but also in the interest of the entire region and the global community. He called on the world community to work collectively towards a permanent resolution through dialogue.

Touching upon the financial challenges faced by the province, the Chief Minister criticized the federal government for not releasing KP's due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, particularly for the newly merged districts. He stated that over Rs2000 billion in net hydel profit payments remain unpaid by the federal government.