October 28, 2025
By Islam Gul Afridi
PESHAWAR
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sohail Afridi, has convened a peace jirgah in his native Khyber district to address the growing unrest in merged tribal districts. Political workers and tribal elders from across the province attended the historic gathering aimed at restoring peace in the region.
In his address, CM Afridi said that since his nomination, a specific group had launched a baseless propaganda campaign against him, calling it unconstitutional and unlawful. He stated that from Pakistan’s inception until 9/11, the tribal people had been defending the country’s borders, but subsequent policies had turned them into scapegoats for all the blame.
“In the name of peace, the Pashtuns have paid a heavy price, but they will no longer tolerate oppression,” he asserted.
The chief minister categorically rejected the prospect of a new military operation, saying that past offensives and drone strikes had caused irreparable harm to local communities, with no one addressing their grievances. He revealed that in 2022, security authorities had decided to allow the return of armed militants despite strong opposition from residents — a move that triggered a fresh wave of violence across the province.
“A new operation will not be accepted under any circumstances,” he warned, adding that decisions concerning the province must be made with the consent of the people and their elected representatives.
Afridi also announced that peace jirgahs would soon be held across all tribal districts, culminating in a grand jirgah in Peshawar. The recommendations and demands formulated there, would be presented to the federal government. He cautioned that failure to address these demands could have serious repercussions, stressing that no decision would be acceptable without consulting the tribal population.
‘Dialogue the Only Way Forward’
Tribal elder Malik Khan Marjan from North Waziristan says that for the past two decades, the entire tribal belt had been engulfed in conflict, leaving its people devastated.
“Even the world’s major powers resorted to dialogue to resolve conflicts — why can’t we do the same?” he questions.
Another elder, Haji Muhammad Mehsud, said he had attended the jirgah keeping aside political differences, solely for the cause of peace. He added that similar gatherings should be held across all Pashtun areas, as the situation had become increasingly dire.
Jirgah recommendations to be shared with policymakers
Khyber MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi says that the chief minister will be taking the jirgah’s recommendations to policymakers to ensure the genuine representation of the Pashtun people.
MNA Muhammad Iqbal Afridi said that no new military operation would be allowed in the area. He revealed that security officials had floated two options — to evacuate the area or form tribal militias — both of which, he said, were unacceptable, as such measures had yielded no positive outcomes in the past.
Senator Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said that the election of the new chief minister had revived hope for lasting peace in the province. However, he warned that if disputes with Afghanistan were not resolved through dialogue, the consequences could be dire for the entire region.
CM Afridi demanded that the federal government immediately release the province’s outstanding dues — including the annual NFC share for the merged districts and net hydel profit arrears. “We are not begging for resources; we are claiming what is rightfully ours,” he remarked.
ANP boycotts jirgah
Meanwhile, only national and white coloured flags were seen at the jirgah venue, as all major political parties except the Awami National Party (ANP) took part in the event.
The jirgah comes at a time when two rounds of talks between tribal elders and armed groups have already been held in Tirah Valley, Khyber district. At the same time, an ongoing military operation in Central Kurram — following an attack on security forces — has displaced thousands of residents, who are currently holding a protest sit-in outside the Peshawar Press Club.