Senior Pakistani Official Blames Army for Insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Suhail Afridi, the senior minister of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has sharply criticized the country’s army, accusing it of being the primary source of insecurity in the region.
Speaking at a press conference, Afridi claimed that the Pakistan Army has not only deliberately disrupted security in Pashtun-majority areas, but has also kidnapped participants of a peace jirga, indicating that the military is pursuing peace based on its own interests rather than the will of the people.
Afridi further alleged that the army seeks to undermine efforts to rebuild trust between Kabul and Islamabad, thereby disrupting opportunities for dialogue with Afghanistan. He added that the dominant mindset within Pakistan’s ruling establishment over the past 71 years has been a major obstacle to achieving peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He described the actions of the Pakistan Army as militaristic and criminal, accusing it of targeting civilians and violating human rights in tribal areas. According to Afridi, residents are exhausted by the central government’s hidden agendas and its authoritarian approach.
Highlighting growing threats to peace, Afridi warned that oppression and coercion would not be tolerated and stressed that, like his political leader Imran Khan, he would not succumb to pressure. “Any individual or institution that disrupts our peace or disrespects our religious values is our common enemy,” he stated.
These remarks come amid previous accusations from the Taliban administration, which has alleged that elements within the Pakistan Army are deliberately trying to sour relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Reports have also indicated that prior attacks by the Pakistan Army inside Afghanistan — particularly in Paktika province — have resulted in civilian deaths, including children, women, and athletes. These actions have sparked widespread domestic and international condemnation.
