Govt rebukes CM Afridi for evidence remark

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government on Monday vehemently blasted Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for questioning claims that Afghan soil was being used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, triggering sharp reactions from several ministers who accused the PTI of undermining the national narrative on terrorism.

The controversy erupted after Afridi, speaking during a media interaction at the residence of PTI leader Alamgir Khan in Karachi on Sunday night, said the state should present evidence to support allegations that Afghanistan's territory was being used for terrorism in Pakistan.

He also remarked that other countries sharing borders with Afghanistan did not have similar complaints.

In a post on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused Afridi of acting as Afghanistan's "spokesperson", calling his remarks "highly condemnable and shameful".

"The whole world has seen evidence of the Afghan Taliban regime's support for terrorists, and there is also irrefutable evidence that Afghanistan's soil is being used for terrorist activities," Tarar said.

He added that "Sohail Afridi has reached the peak of lies and hypocrisy", arguing that Pakistan had made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and alleging that the PTI had repeatedly facilitated terrorists.

"Pakistan's development is unacceptable to Fitna al Khawarij which is why Pakistan is targeted," he said, adding that Afridi needed to "come to his senses".

Later in the day, Tarar reiterated the government's stance while addressing the Qaumi Paigham-e-Amman Committee conference in Islamabad.

He said terrorist elements would not be allowed to advance their narrative or ideology and stressed that the nation stood united in its resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms through both kinetic and non-kinetic means.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, efforts were underway to reinforce the national narrative and counter anti-state designs.

'PTI spreading doubt'

Speaking separately to the media in Islamabad, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry accused the PTI of consistently creating uncertainty on national security issues.

"They are always reluctant to call terrorists terrorists and say things that spread doubt amongst the common man," he said, adding that neighbouring countries were involved, with one "investing" and the other "implementing" terrorism.

"The K-P CM, once again, said in Karachi that we should provide the Afghan government with evidence of terrorist activities. Do you still not know who's behind terrorism?"

He said at least two dozen countries had pointed out that Afghan soil was being used for terrorism and accused the PTI of deliberately spreading doubt, opposing military operations, resisting the expulsion of illegal Afghan nationals and preferring negotiations over action.

"There must be a reason for this soft attitude," Talal said.

"They have something in common, and I'll say it on record: there has not been even a single attack on any PTI leader, worker, adviser, minister in the past 11 years," he alleged.

He accused the party of creating ambiguity so militant groups could operate in K-P and gain public sympathy.

Questioning PTI's street movement, Talal asked whether party leaders had met the families of martyrs.

"You stand against the national narrative because you are a beneficiary," he said, warning that no individual, regardless of position, would be allowed to speak against the national narrative or create doubt.

He said the PTI could run "100 political movements", but any soft stance on terrorism would not be tolerated.

"We will send you where we are going to send them. If you have such empathy for them, then go to Afghanistan," he said.

Citing the toll of violence, Talal said over 1,200 people had been martyred, families and children killed in bombings, and that 60 to 70 per cent of such incidents occurred in K-P.

He accused the PTI of attempting to create unrest to weaken the state for political leverage and warned that sympathisers would be treated like terrorists.

"There is no space for terrorism in Pakistan," he said, adding that no one would be allowed to "play with the blood" of Pakistanis through narratives or weapons.

Meanwhile, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described Afridi's remarks as "upsetting", noting that K-P had witnessed the highest number of terrorist incidents.

In a video statement posted on X, he said that during dialogues with the Afghan Taliban in Doha and Istanbul, Afghanistan had not denied that its soil was being used for cross-border terrorism, though it had claimed lack of control.

"Our demand was for them to take control of the situation," he said.

Questioning whether the K-P CM acknowledged the sacrifices of security forces and civilians, he linked major attacks, including the bombing outside an Islamabad district court, to Afghanistan.

"Your statement today is like rubbing salt in the wounds of the families of martyrs and slain civilians," he said.

Chaudhry said Pakistan had presented evidence and footage at international forums showing terrorists crossing over from Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan remained a friendly country to Afghanistan and had hosted around four million Afghan refugees for decades, but added that internal security could not be compromised.

"Pakistan's security and the safety of the people are our responsibility and we will fulfil it in any circumstance," he said, warning that continued attacks would be met with a firm response.