KP CM Sohail Afridi Says He Will Oppose Any New Military Operation
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said his government will oppose any new military operation in the province as the PTI-led protest convoy reached Khyber district on Wednesday.
The march is being held as part of the PTI’s campaign for the release of party founder Imran Khan. Afridi addressed participants in Khyber and said he would resist policies that he believes could negatively affect the people of the province.
“I will not allow another military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Afridi said, adding that he would continue to oppose such measures while serving as chief minister.
The route and schedule of the protest have changed several times since the march began. The PTI had initially planned for the convoy to reach Khairabad near Attock on October 8, where the next course of action was expected to be announced.
According to the chief minister’s office, Afridi has now said the march would continue towards Swabi, where he would announce the next plan. However, PTI social media representative Omar Farooq said the final destination was still subject to change.
The convoy is expected to reach Peshawar on Thursday, while Charsadda has been identified as the overnight stop before the next phase of the march.
The protest originally scheduled for September 27 was later postponed to October 4. The march began from Lakki Marwat and Karak before moving through Kohat and reaching Mattani on the outskirts of Peshawar.
The PTI had previously announced Islamabad as the eventual destination of the march. The federal government has warned against protests and gatherings in the capital.
The march followed unsuccessful talks between the federal government and opposition parties over several issues, including counterterrorism policy.
Afridi Raises Concerns Over Military Operations
During his address in Khyber, Afridi referred to the displacement of residents from Tirah and said affected families had faced difficulties after leaving their homes.
Residents of Tirah had agreed to vacate their areas in late 2025 to facilitate a military operation against militants. Displaced families have since raised concerns about assistance and the fulfilment of government commitments.
The KP chief minister said his government had opposed military operations in the province and alleged that pressure had been placed on the provincial administration to support another operation.
Afridi also criticised what he described as inadequate federal funding for the former tribal districts following their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that the provincial government had released Rs21 billion for families affected by previous military operations.
Responding to criticism that the KP government was not cooperating on counterterrorism efforts, Afridi pointed to the security situation in Balochistan and said provincial governments should work with the federal government while protecting the interests of local communities.
He also repeated his claim that the Centre had not released all funds allocated for the former tribal areas, including Khyber, after their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
