PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called for a change in the federal government’s counterterrorism policy, saying the province has suffered decades of violence despite continued military and security operations.
Addressing a meeting on the law and order situation, Afridi said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police and armed forces had made enormous sacrifices for peace. He claimed that more than 80,000 people from the province had sacrificed their lives for Pakistan.
Afridi said peace achieved through two decades of sacrifices had deteriorated after what he described as the “regime change operation.” He claimed that the provincial government had repeatedly warned the state and federal authorities about the return and resettlement of militants.
He said the provincial government had organised rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings across KP to raise its voice against the return of violence, but its warnings were dismissed by federal ministers as propaganda and falsehoods.
The chief minister said soldiers, police personnel, children, women, elderly people and civilians were now being targeted in terrorist attacks across the province.
Afridi Says KP Increased Police Resources
Afridi said the KP government had allocated Rs35 billion from its development budget for peace and security and had increased the police budget by 103% in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
He said the provincial government was strengthening police manpower and operational capacity, improving the Special Branch and providing modern weapons and other equipment.
Afridi maintained that providing resources to the police alone would not resolve the security crisis and called on the federal government to change its policy.
He said he had been calling for a review of the “22-year-old policy” since October 15, 2025 and urged the federal government to formulate a new strategy after consulting all stakeholders, including the provincial government, administration and police.
‘Peace Can Be Restored in 100 Days’
The KP chief minister said the province could achieve peace within 100 days if the policy proposed by his government was implemented.
However, he said, “no one is ready to listen” and some people were unwilling to consider the views of stakeholders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Afridi questioned whether the lives of the people of KP were being sacrificed for political interests and said no action contrary to the public mandate and wishes of the people of the province would be acceptable.
Afridi Rejects Threats of Governor’s Rule
Addressing reports of possible governor’s rule or emergency in the province, Afridi said he would not change his position because of such threats.
He said the federal government should introduce a policy shift to protect soldiers, police personnel and civilians from further bloodshed.
Afridi maintained that a change in counterterrorism policy was in the interest of not only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the entire country.
His latest remarks come amid renewed debate over the security situation in KP. In a recent statement following a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Afridi also called for a review of the policies that, in his view, had contributed to the resurgence of terrorism and said the provincial government’s proposed strategy could produce results within 100 days.
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