Imagine a province plagued by terrorism for over two decades, where peace feels like an elusive dream – but now, a leader is daring to rewrite the rulebook on how to achieve it. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, recently sparked significant buzz by advocating for a major overhaul in Pakistan's approach to fighting terrorism. On a recent Wednesday, he urged the central government to adopt a fresh strategy that brings everyone to the table, including diverse stakeholders in the decision-making process. This call came during a grand multi-party gathering called a jirga, organized by the KP government to tackle the region's security challenges and brainstorm ways to restore lasting peace. For those unfamiliar, a jirga is a traditional assembly in Pashtun culture where community leaders discuss important issues, often aiming for consensus – think of it as a modern town hall meeting with deep roots in local traditions.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is opening the doors to 'closed rooms' really the key to ending terrorism, or could it complicate things further? The jirga built on a previous one held in Khyber district on October 25, where CM Afridi cautioned against rushing into new military campaigns in the tribal areas. "I firmly believe we can discover a lasting and effective remedy for this terrorism scourge that's ravaged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for more than 20 years," Afridi declared to the attendees. He outlined a new approach that means stepping away from secretive decision-making, recognizing the intelligence of everyday people, valuing politicians' wisdom, and incorporating input from security personnel, KP stakeholders, leaders across all political spectrums, and representatives from every ideological viewpoint.
Afridi stressed that this isn't about a quick fix – one where terrorism might flare up again after a brief calm. Instead, it should be a comprehensive plan to eradicate the threat once and for all. To illustrate, just as a doctor treats the root cause of a recurring illness rather than just the symptoms, this policy shift aims to address underlying issues like exclusion and mistrust, potentially preventing future cycles of violence.
And this is the part most people miss: The jirga wasn't just talk; it brought together a who's who of Pakistani politics and society. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, seated alongside Afridi, joined at the provincial government's invitation. Federal representatives were also anticipated. Opposition parties like the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) – all with seats in the KP Assembly – participated actively. KP Speaker Babar Saleem Swati presided over the event, with PTI MNA Junaid Akbar and PML-N's Ibadullah Khan, the opposition leader in the assembly, sharing the stage.
CM Afridi kicked off his speech by warmly greeting participants from politics and civil society. "We all keep talking about peace, but sadly, not everyone is on board," he noted, pointing out that true peace requires wiping out militancy, which hasn't happened through top-down, imposed decisions. "Our individual political paths may differ, but our shared peace is what unites us," he added, reminding everyone that parties and citizens alike have made huge sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He praised the security forces – army, police, and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) – for their losses, crediting them with achieving peace in 2018.
War, Afridi argued, should always be the absolute last resort in solving problems. He also reiterated demands for KP to receive its full entitlement from the National Finance Commission, around Rs400 billion, noting that while the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas were merged with KP administratively, the financial integration remains incomplete.
Governor Kundi echoed the unity theme, calling the jirga a 'brilliant initiative' that taps into our collective wisdom and promotes national solidarity. He urged Swati to establish a committee with leaders from all assembly parties, plus those outside the legislature, to keep the dialogue going and bridge partisan divides. Focusing on the future, Kundi emphasized planning for KP's prosperity and the next generations, rather than dwelling on past grievances.
He touched on Afghanistan's instability, explaining how superpowers have historically invaded, failed, and left behind weapons that end up fueling militant activities in Pakistan. "Every so often, a global power invades Afghanistan, fails to conquer it, and leaves a mess of arms that gets turned against us," Kundi described vividly. He highlighted militants' use of advanced gear like night-vision thermal snipers, suggesting KP might lack sufficient resources to counter them effectively. "Let's put politics aside and prioritize our province's growth," urged the PPP leader. Agreeing with Junaid Akbar, he pledged to back the KP government with evidence-based arguments to secure rights from Islamabad. "We have plenty to discuss – our resources, our needs – and we must collaborate across federal, provincial, security, and military lines."
PTI's Asad Qaiser took the stage to push for diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, stressing that Pakistan and its neighbor are interdependent. "They can't thrive without each other," he said. He criticized the 1970s decision to enter the Afghan conflict as a military-led choice, not political, where leaders were assured Afghan allies would be integrated, despite widespread reservations from politicians. Akbar questioned why, despite brave forces and intelligence efforts, peace remains elusive. The jirga opened with prayers for terrorism martyrs.
Participants included ANP KP President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, former JI emir Sirajul Haq, PPP provincial leader Akhunzada Chattan, and delegates from JUI-F and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). Also present were ex-CM Mehmood Khan, former governor Shaukatullah Khan, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party chairman Afzal Shah Khamosh, lawyers, and thinkers from various ideologies.
This gathering unfolded against a backdrop of recent terror waves nationwide. Just yesterday, Islamabad saw a deadly explosion claiming 12 lives in G-11, while KP faced its own crises: a bomb targeting a security convoy in Dera Ismail Khan's Daraban tehsil injured 14, and an attack on the Cadet College in Wana left three martyrs, though students and staff were rescued and militants eliminated.
Former KP minister Kamran Khan Bangash tweeted, "The attacks in Bannu, Wana, and Islamabad are plots to derail our peace efforts – but peace will prevail." Swati and Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi arrived with a police escort.
JUI-F was represented by provincial emir Maulana Attaur Rehman and general secretary Maulana Attaul Haq Dervesh, while JI sent Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and ex-minister Inayatullah Khan.
ANP's Iftikhar Hussain delivered a bold stance: No more dividing Taliban into 'good' and 'bad' – a narrative that could ignite fierce debate. He called for ending outdated policies and fully enacting the National Action Plan to crush terrorism. "The government must take ownership, as we did during our Malakand operation, involving everyone and rebuilding lives," he shared, drawing from ANP's past experiences. On Pak-Afghan ties, he advocated mutual respect, dialogue, reopening trade routes, and boosting border economies through joint government efforts.
Ex-CM Mehmood Khan questioned the fate of previous jirgas, urging the government to engage 'key players' and form a dedicated group for KP's rights talks with the Centre.
'Peace above politics' – that's what PTI's Qaiser proclaimed, welcoming all parties, including foes. He aimed to craft a national counter-terrorism strategy via the jirga, pushing for diplomatic Afghan resolutions and presenting KP's concerns to Kabul.
PML-N's Ibadullah Khan noted the unprecedented assembly in the KP Assembly, hopeful for success. "Terrorism tops our agenda; no negotiating with killers," he asserted, vowing no mercy for child murderers.
PPP's Ahmad Karim Kundi praised the jirga as addressing KP's core law-and-order woes, representing 40 million voices.
So, what do you think? Is this stakeholder-inclusive approach the game-changer for peace in KP, or just another talking shop doomed to fail? Could abandoning the 'good Taliban' distinction risk alienating allies – or is it finally time for a no-holds-barred fight against all militancy? Share your views in the comments – do you agree with CM Afridi's vision, or see pitfalls we haven't considered? Let's discuss!
