K-P CM warns of rising terrorism threats

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has once again expressed deep concern over the province's deteriorating security situation, calling for a unified policy to achieve sustainable and long-term peace. Speaking to the provincial assembly Monday, Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi emphasized that the recent surge in unrest is not accidental but the outcome of flawed policy decisions over time.

"The effects of past decisions are now evident across the tribal districts and Malakand division," he stated, criticizing the ongoing blame-shifting rather than acceptance of responsibility. The Chief Minister warned that a new wave of terrorism is emerging in a coordinated manner, rooted in policy choices made following recent political transitions. "Earlier warnings about potential threats were disregarded, and if timely, ground-level measures had been taken, extremist elements would not have regained access to urban centers," he noted.

On a related note, the K-P Assembly passed a resolution condemning Pakistan's participation in the Board of Peace, asserting that it contravenes UN resolutions and Pakistan's principled stance on Palestinian self-determination, potentially legitimizing Israeli oppression.

Afridi further highlighted that despite thousands of intelligence reports and multiple security operations, lasting peace remains elusive, underlining that the issue is not merely operational but strategic. "Terrorists feed off the people; if citizens provide food, they are not attacked, but refusal triggers violence," he explained, noting that military operations and population evacuations in tribal regions have caused local unrest. Many displaced families attribute their suffering to higher-level policy decisions rather than the provincial government.

The Chief Minister stressed that sustainable peace requires political consensus, local consultation, and confidence-building, not just the use of force. Responding to recent federal statements, Afridi warned that such rhetoric could undermine institutional coordination and declared that all future interactions with federal authorities would be formalized in writing to avoid ambiguity.

Addressing the plight of affected communities, he lamented that compensation for families impacted by past operations remains incomplete, and the rehabilitation of displaced persons has been slow. While the provincial government has spent heavily, pending funds are the responsibility of the federal government. Afridi also criticized federal financial policies, linking rising debt, inflation, and unemployment to societal pressures that exacerbate security challenges.

The Chief Minister vowed to consult tribal elders and political leadership to devise a joint action plan if provincial concerns continue to be ignored. "K-P cannot be treated as an experimental ground; solutions must respect consultation, transparency, and constitutional limits," he said.