RASC News Agency: Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has squarely blamed Afghanistan for the escalating security crisis in the province. Citing a sharp deterioration in law and order particularly in the recently merged tribal districts he asserted that these challenges are “directly linked to the security dynamics in neighboring Afghanistan.” Gandapur made these remarks during a high-level meeting on Tuesday with Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, at his office. His statements come against the backdrop of an unprecedented surge in militant attacks and bombings in Pakistan following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused the Taliban of harboring and supporting Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, an allegation the Taliban leadership has consistently refuted.
As of yet, the Taliban has issued no response to Gandapur’s claims. Speaking to members of the UK’s High Security Council, he underscored the urgency of “serious and result-oriented efforts” to address this “longstanding” security dilemma. He further warned that failure to contain escalating unrest in the newly integrated districts could set off a chain reaction, jeopardizing national stability. The Chief Minister also apprised the British envoy that the provincial government had convened a Jirga (tribal council) to initiate negotiations with the Taliban and had completed all requisite preparations for dispatching a delegation. However, as the matter falls under the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s federal government, the provincial administration awaits final approval of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the talks.
Gandapur emphasized that sustainable peace in the region is not merely a Pakistani concern but a matter of regional and global significance. He urged the international community to adopt a collective diplomatic approach to achieving a permanent resolution through structured dialogue. Turning to the financial challenges confronting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he criticized Pakistan’s federal government for failing to release the province’s due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, particularly funds designated for the newly merged districts. He further revealed that over PKR 2 trillion in net hydel profits owed to the province by the federal government remains unpaid.
