KP Chief Minister urges Pakistan’s Federal Govt to send Jirga to Kabul for peace talks

A day after announcing plans to send a delegation to Afghanistan for peace talks, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur urged the federal government to send a jirga to Kabul to achieve lasting peace.

The Foreign Office and political opponents criticized CM Gandapur for his unilateral bid to lead peace talks, accusing him of overstepping his authority.

Gandapur met with the Afghan Taliban Consul General in Peshawar to discuss regional peace, trade, and Afghan refugees, though it remains unclear who initiated the meeting.

The meeting followed a speech where Gandapur threatened to pursue his own policy of negotiating directly with the Afghan Taliban to end terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Gandapur’s meeting with the Afghan envoy raised concerns, as the Foreign Office emphasized that talks with foreign governments are solely the federal government’s responsibility.

In a speech to lawyers and parliamentarians, Gandapur accused the establishment of ignoring the violence in his province, further pushing for regional peace efforts.

Gandapur highlighted the suffering caused by the war on terrorism and stressed the importance of peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan during his meeting with the Afghan consul.

The Foreign Office reiterated that conducting diplomatic negotiations is the federal government’s exclusive right and added that the government will evaluate any public proposals.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned Gandapur’s actions, calling his attempt to lead foreign talks a “direct attack on the federation.”

Asif argued that no province could negotiate with foreign countries, labelling Gandapur’s actions as dangerous for Pakistan.

PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also criticized Gandapur’s remarks, asserting that, despite political differences, the federation’s unity must come first.

PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa defended Gandapur, highlighting the cross-border trade and transit, but acknowledged that the chief minister may have spoken too harshly about journalists.

Chief Minister Gandapur’s controversial actions and statements have sparked intense debate, raising questions about the boundaries of provincial authority in foreign policy matters. While Gandapur seeks to address regional peace and security concerns, his approach has drawn criticism from both the federal government and political opponents, who view it as a threat to national unity.

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