Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Has Right to Engage with Afghanistan, Says Provincial Spokesperson
Peshawar, — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif has said that if Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is permitted to undertake foreign visits, then KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur should also be allowed to hold talks with Afghanistan.
In a statement, Barrister Saif criticized the federal government for what he called a “double standard” in dealing with Punjab and KP. “Allowing Maryam Nawaz to go on foreign tours while stopping Gandapur from engaging with Afghanistan is a clear contradiction,” he said.
He emphasized that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the full right to establish communication with neighboring Afghanistan, especially given the province’s unique geographical and security concerns. “Our people want peace, and dialogue with Afghanistan is essential for that. The law and order situation in KP is directly linked to developments across the border,” he added.
Barrister Saif revealed that the KP government had already submitted a formal set of Terms of Reference (TORs) to the federal government for talks with Afghanistan, but no response has been received so far.
He further stated that Chief Minister Gandapur has initiated peace efforts by organizing jirgas in tribal districts, with plans for a grand tribal jirga to formulate recommendations for lasting peace in the region.
