KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Reveals Details of Talks with Imran Khan and Upcoming Negotiations

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, revealed in an interview that during the early stages of negotiations between PTI and the government, an offer was made to relocate Imran Khan to Bani Gala, Nathiagali, or even the Chief Minister’s House. However, Imran Khan insisted that all party leaders should be released before any such move.

During the interview, Gandapur spoke about his recent meeting with the Army Chief, where discussions revolved around countering terrorism, a priority agreed upon by all political leaders present. He emphasized the importance of collective effort to combat terrorism and hinted at plans to send a delegation to Afghanistan for peace talks. He mentioned that a smaller delegation would visit Afghanistan this month, followed by a larger jirga (tribal council) that would include representatives from tribal areas.

Gandapur stressed that the federal government must be part of these discussions and support the negotiations for them to be effective. He further acknowledged the need to change policies that have not yielded positive results, focusing on restoring public trust, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and engaging the public in the fight against terrorism.

He also discussed the broader political stability needed for the country’s progress, highlighting how the trust deficit and violent incidents in Islamabad on November 26 were significant milestones in the ongoing negotiations. He firmly asserted that the use of force, particularly the firing on PTI supporters, was unjustified.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the damaging actions of some of Imran Khan’s followers but reiterated his respect for the former Prime Minister. When asked about the possibility of relocating Imran Khan to a more comfortable location for negotiations, Gandapur confirmed that such a proposal had been made but clarified that Imran Khan wanted all PTI workers to be released first.

Gandapur concluded by acknowledging that the door for negotiations was still open, referencing Imran Khan’s willingness to negotiate for Pakistan’s sake and his previous successes in talks. He remained hopeful about the resumption of negotiations with an optimistic outlook.