Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has leveled serious accusations against Pakistan’s power structures, claiming that the federal government and influential groups linked to it are creating “fake terrorist attacks” in KP. He said these actions are meant to destabilize the province and undermine any efforts toward peace. Afridi described this as “terrorism manufactured for political agendas.”
Political Tensions Rise Amid Violence
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Afridi’s statements come at a time when violence has surged in KP. The Chief Minister alleged that certain powerful elements within the federal system benefit from unrest and have no interest in seeing KP achieve stability. “For 71 years, those in power have proven that this terrorism is entirely manufactured. They run peace not according to the will of the people, but according to their own interests,” Afridi said.
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PTM Activists’ Abduction Highlights Concerns
Afridi pointed to the recent abduction of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activists as an example. The activists went missing after attending a “Provincial Peace Jirga.” Afridi claimed that the abductions were aimed at derailing peace efforts and weakening dialogue with Afghanistan.
Civilians Targeted in Military Operations
Afridi also criticized the Pakistani military, accusing it of targeting civilians under the guise of “counter-terror operations.” He referred to a recent airstrike in Matar Dara village in Tirah Valley, where at least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed. Afridi called these operations “war crimes,” saying that ordinary people are being made victims in military campaigns.
People of KP Reject ‘Manufactured Terrorism’
The KP Chief Minister emphasized that the people of the province are fed up with “self-created terrorism” and will not accept decisions made behind closed doors. He warned that anyone trying to disrupt peace in KP would be considered a “common enemy.”
KP and the former FATA regions have long been hotspots for terrorism, border tensions with Afghanistan, and the presence of groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Recent clashes in Kurram district between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban militants have further heightened tensions.