All political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agree military operations are not a solution, says CM Suhail Afridi
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Suhail Afridi on Monday strongly criticized the launch of the Tirah Valley military operation, stating that it was initiated without taking the provincial government into confidence and through what he described as “forceful and high-handed tactics.”
Chairing a grand jirga of tribal elders and community leaders from Khyber district, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation and the challenges faced by families displaced from Tirah. Tribal elders presented proposals for restoring peace and ensuring dignified rehabilitation of affected families.
CM Afridi directed authorities to provide all possible facilities to the displaced families, assuring them that the KP government would not abandon the people of Tirah. “The entire nation stands united with the people forced to migrate from Tirah,” he said.
The chief minister emphasized that all political parties and schools of thought in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are unanimous that military operations are not a lasting solution. “We want an end to terrorism, but we are a peace-loving people and seek peace through consensus, not force,” he added.
Questioning the effectiveness of repeated military actions, Afridi said that after 22 major and nearly 14,000 small operations, there is still no guarantee of lasting peace. He warned that decisions taken behind closed doors and imposed on Tirah would not yield positive results.
He further stated that tribal communities have made immense sacrifices for the country, including displacement and loss of livelihoods, yet a certain mindset continues to resist the integration of Pashtuns—particularly tribal populations—into the national mainstream.
The chief minister also condemned what he termed a negative propaganda campaign against him since assuming office, calling it an unfortunate attack on a democratically elected leader. He said public support had defeated such narratives.
Reaffirming his commitment, Afridi said he promised to give his people “pens instead of guns” and pledged to stand firmly with them during difficult times. He credited former prime minister Imran Khan for raising political awareness among the public, enabling them to distinguish truth from hypocrisy.
