PESHAWAR:
The federal and provincial governments have decided to entrust K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with leading efforts to resolve the unrest and uncertainty in Khyber district. He has been tasked with spearheading negotiations with the now-proscribed Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).
According to reports, Gandapur recently arrived in Khyber district to begin talks, during which the PTM presented additional demands. Prior to this, on Thursday, he hosted a grand jirga at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar to discuss the emerging situation in Khyber.
After extensive deliberations, members of the provincial assembly and leaders from various political parties expressed their confidence in Gandapur and assigned him the responsibility of organizing a jirga to seek a peaceful resolution. Gandapur accepted this role, announcing his intention to lead the negotiations and expressing gratitude to the grand jirga for their trust.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, along with multiple MPAs and political leaders, participated in the event. Notable figures included PTM representative Mohsin Dawar, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Aimal Wali Khan, Professor Ibrahim, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, and K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, among others.
Gandapur thanked all attendees for their participation and confidence in his leadership, emphasizing that their focus was on achieving peace in the province. He stressed that the protection of lives and property is the government’s top priority, and that dialogue, not conflict, is the key to resolving disputes. He reaffirmed his commitment to honor the opinions and suggestions of all participants and work towards a peaceful solution in accordance with Pashtun traditions.
Discussions with PTM
During the talks, PTM’s Mohsin Dawar questioned officials, including the K-P chief minister, the governor, and federal ministers, about the decision to ban the PTM. The officials explained that the ban was due to alleged connections between PTM and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which Dawar denied.
After further discussions, it was agreed to form a representative jirga to engage with PTM, while postponing a gathering planned for the next day in Khyber. Dawar insisted that if the government did not permit the jirga, PTM would boycott the ongoing talks and protest. Eventually, federal representatives accepted Dawar’s demand, empowering Gandapur and his provincial cabinet to negotiate with PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen and ensure the jirga proceeded as planned. Gandapur formed a negotiation team to meet with Pashteen later that night.
Governor’s Statement
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi emphasized that peace in the province was the primary goal of the jirga. Speaking at the gathering, he thanked the provincial government, particularly Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, for their efforts. Kundi acknowledged political differences but reiterated that peace and the well-being of the people were the top priorities. He urged unity and dialogue as the solution to all problems, noting that some demands would be addressed by the provincial government, while others would involve the federal government.
Kundi also highlighted the security challenges facing the province, with certain areas still classified as no-go zones, and stressed the importance of restoring peace through collective effort.