Pakistan: KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi Rejects New Military Operations, Drone Strikes

Peshawar (Terror Monitor) — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has said his government will not accept any new military operations or drone strikes in the province, insisting that decisions concerning the region must reflect the wishes and interests of its people.

Addressing participants of a long march in Lakki Marwat, Afridi said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government believed in politics and negotiations as the preferred means of resolving political and security challenges. However, he alleged that certain quarters had put forward demands during recent negotiations in Islamabad that his government considered contrary to the interests of the province and its residents.

Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had repeatedly borne the consequences of policies imposed on it in the past and warned that his government would resist any attempt to repeat that approach. He maintained that provincial governance would continue in accordance with the vision and policies of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Opposition to Military Operations and Drone Strikes

The chief minister reiterated his opposition to any new military campaign or drone attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in areas that have experienced years of terrorism, security operations and displacement.

During his address, Afridi asked participants in the long march whether they supported military operations and drone strikes. According to his account of the gathering, the participants expressed opposition to both.

He argued that security policies affecting the province should not be formulated without taking local communities into account, particularly when civilian populations could suffer the consequences.

The chief minister said the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had faced prolonged insecurity and the effects of counterterrorism operations for several years. He maintained that his government would oppose policies that placed ordinary residents at risk.

Calls for a Change in Federal Counterterrorism Policy

Afridi called on the federal government to reconsider its existing strategy for addressing terrorism and give the provincial government an opportunity to implement its own proposed approach.

He claimed that the security situation could improve within 100 days if the federal authorities accepted and implemented the provincial government's proposals.

However, he did not provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed measures or independently verifiable targets during the remarks described in the account.

His comments highlight the political disagreement over how to address persistent insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where attacks by terrorist groups and counterterrorism operations have repeatedly affected civilian communities.

Afridi's position emphasizes political engagement and a greater role for the provincial government in shaping security policy, rather than accepting new military action without provincial and public consent.

Rejects Governor's Rule and Emergency Measures

The chief minister also rejected the possibility of imposing governor's rule or declaring an emergency in the province, saying the public mandate must remain paramount.

Afridi said his government would continue to operate under the political mandate it had received and would resist attempts to undermine provincial authority.

His remarks come amid broader political tensions between PTI and the federal authorities. He presented the provincial government's opposition to new military operations as part of its commitment to protecting the interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's population.

Reaffirms Support for Imran Khan and PTI

During the speech, Afridi also defended PTI and its founder, Imran Khan, asserting that the party could not be eliminated from Pakistan's political landscape.

He claimed that young people and the wider public continued to support Khan's leadership, portraying the party's political base as resilient despite the challenges it has faced.

Afridi said the provincial government would continue to follow Khan's vision and policies, reinforcing the party's position that its electoral mandate should be respected.

Long March to Continue Across the Province

Addressing the future of the long march, Afridi said the movement would continue and that public gatherings would be organized in different districts.

He urged residents to remain engaged in the political process and raise their voices on decisions affecting the province and the country's future.

The chief minister concluded by saying that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would continue to oppose policies they considered harmful to their interests, as they had done in the past.

Verification note: The statements and policy positions in this report are attributed to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi as described in the supplied account of his speech. His claim that the provincial government's proposals could improve security within 100 days has not been independently verified. The account does not specify the full details of the proposals discussed during the Islamabad negotiations.