PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi slammed Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, calling his recent remarks “deeply regrettable and painful” for a province that has sacrificed nearly 80,000 lives in the fight against terrorism.
In a strong post on X, Afridi warned that negative portrayals of KP by a state institution’s representative threaten national unity and could destabilize Pakistan. He emphasized that opposition to military operations is not confined to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but is shared across all political and religious parties, as well as people of every school of thought in the province. “A military operation alone cannot deliver long-term peace,” he stressed.
Afridi highlighted that despite 22 major military campaigns and nearly 14,000 intelligence-based operations, terrorism has not been eradicated in KP. “Are there major flaws in policy-making and implementation?” he questioned. He warned that continued reliance on failed strategies risks wasting national resources and endangering public lives.
He questioned the effectiveness of future operations: “What guarantee exists that another military campaign will bring lasting peace? Past strategies, despite heavy human and financial costs, have failed. Why would the same approach work now?” He called for transparency, clear objectives, and measurable outcomes, cautioning that without these, any new operation risks creating more uncertainty rather than stability.
Afridi also accused the military of sidelining elected representatives and local authorities in decision-making. Many districts, he said, still face insecurity, economic stagnation, fear of displacement, and declining trust in state policies. “Business, education, and daily life continue to suffer while locals remain excluded from decisions,” he added.
The CM revealed that terrorism was allowed to re-enter KP despite repeated warnings, aided by misleading narratives. He highlighted the toll on PTI members, noting that officials, ministers, and elected representatives were targeted, with some martyred in shootings or bombings. Afridi condemned the DG ISPR’s remarks as irresponsible and unfounded, saying they fuel hatred against PTI and suggest political forces are being left vulnerable to terrorists—a dangerous and unacceptable mindset.
Calling for a dramatic rethink, Afridi proposed that all future security and anti-terror decisions be guided by a national jirga, including all political and religious parties and KP Assembly representatives. “This is the only path to sustainable peace and security,” he said, emphasizing the need for inclusive decision-making over unilateral military action.
Key Takeaways from DG ISPR’s Press Conference – 6 January 2026
