Imran Khan has voiced strong support for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s proposal to engage directly with Afghanistan to tackle terrorism. During a conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail, the jailed PTI founder endorsed Gandapur’s call for direct talks.
Khan emphasized the need for dialogue to combat terrorism effectively. He urged that Gandapur’s efforts should be supported, asserting, “They should be beseeching him to go and talk to Afghanistan for the sake of God.” According to Khan, terrorism cannot be eradicated without meaningful discussions.
This support comes after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized Gandapur’s proposal. Asif had labeled Gandapur’s suggestion of bypassing federal channels to negotiate with Kabul as a direct attack on the federation. He expressed disapproval in the National Assembly on Thursday.
When asked about a province negotiating with another country, Khan argued that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suffered significantly from terrorism. He remarked, “Forget the Foreign Office, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the most affected by terrorism.” Khan also took a jab at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, noting his failure to visit Afghanistan during his tenure as foreign minister.
Khan highlighted the severe impact of terrorism on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the martyrdom of many police officers. He expressed concern over the discontent among law enforcement personnel nationwide, mentioning protests and rebellion due to the ongoing situation. “We’ve been fighting terrorism for 24 years,” he said, stressing the urgent need to prioritize counter-terrorism efforts. He warned that if terrorism is not controlled, the economy could collapse.
Khan praised Gandapur’s initiative, asserting that the PTI era saw lower levels of terrorism. He urged the government to support any efforts aimed at eliminating terrorism. “If someone is trying to end terrorism, cooperate with them,” Khan said, defending Gandapur’s motives as patriotic rather than anti-state.
Reiterating the heavy toll on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khan stated that “one thousand police officers have already been martyred” in the province. He questioned the federal government’s actions against cross-border terrorism. “The federation itself admits that there is cross-border terrorism, so what has it done so far?” Khan asked.
Clarifying Gandapur’s position, Khan noted that Gandapur did not specify an immediate timeline for sending a provincial delegation to Afghanistan. He concluded his remarks by asking, “What wrong has Ali Amin said?”
In a recent address to the Peshawar Bar Council Association, Gandapur proposed sending a provincial delegation to Afghanistan to address bilateral issues. He suggested doing so without waiting for federal approval, highlighting the severe impact of terrorist attacks on his province.
