Gandapur hosts first peace jirga with tribal elders
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur addresses a tribal jirga at the Chief Minister’s House on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Photo: SCREENGRAB
In a renewed push for peace and development in the tribal districts, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday initiated a series of regional jirgas following an All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur
The provincial government confirmed the development in a post on X, announcing that the first jirga was held at the Chief Minister’s House, including tribal elders and elected representatives from Khyber, Orakzai, and the tribal subdivisions of Dara Adam Khel and Hassan Khel.
وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا @AliAminKhanPTI کی میزبانی میں آل پارٹیز کانفرنس کے بعد امن وامان سے متعلق علاقائی جرگوں کے انعقاد کا سلسلہ شروع۔ اِس سلسلہ کا پہلا علاقائی مشاورت جرگہ آج وزیراعلیٰ ہاؤس میں منعقد ہوا۔ جرگہ میں ضلع خیبر اور اورکزئی کے علاوہ ٹرائبل سب ڈویژنز درہ آدم خیل اور… pic.twitter.com/zMyn5jRuEM
Around 150 tribal elders, six provincial assembly members, three national assembly members, and one senator participated. Senior officials, including the chief secretary, IG police, relevant commissioners, deputy commissioners, and the CM’s information adviser, also attended.
The jirga unanimously condemned terrorism and expressed a united stance against all forms of militancy. However, it strongly rejected military operations that lead to the displacement of local populations, emphasizing that “peace cannot be achieved through such measures.”
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The tribal elders also presented several key recommendations. They underscored that “restoring peace is essential for development, and once stability returns, the pace of progress will accelerate.” They made it clear that no one has demanded or been granted control over the province’s mineral resources or any other assets, reaffirming the commitment to safeguarding local resources.
The jirga further advised the federal government to arrange for a delegation comprising the provincial government and tribal elders to participate in ongoing negotiations with Afghanistan. They stressed that “all necessary support and resources should be provided to this delegation to ensure effective dialogue.”
Plans were also outlined for the next regional jirgas to be held in Mohmand and Bajaur districts, followed by a third jirga covering North and South Waziristan, and a final session in Kurram district. These consultations will culminate in a grand jirga chaired by the Chief Minister.
Before the grand jirga convenes, influential figures from the tribal areas will be appointed to represent their communities and present actionable proposals focused on restoring peace and stability in the region.
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The latest developments follow last week’s APC convened by the K-P government, where a strong consensus was reached against any military operation within the province.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan, addressing the gathering, stressed that the responsibility of securing the country’s borders lies with federal authorities and security agencies, while the provincial police are fully capable of addressing terrorism and law enforcement challenges within KP.
Participants categorically rejected the long-standing distinction between “good” and “bad” Taliban and voiced firm opposition to the use of drone strikes on provincial territory.