PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has called on the federal government to promptly approve the proposed Terms of Reference (TORs) for talks with Afghanistan, citing the urgent need to address the escalating terrorism in the region.
In a statement on Sunday, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Information Advisor to the KP government, emphasized that the federal government should avoid further delays in approving the TORs to enable the provincial government to take immediate action.
He revealed that KP is seeking to send a delegation to Afghanistan on an emergency basis to curb the growing terrorist activities in the region.
Saif underscored that protecting the lives and property of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the provincial government’s top priority and responsibility. He expressed concern over what he perceived as the federal government’s disregard for the increasing terrorist threats in the province, pointing out that the government had not shown the same urgency toward the situation as it had for other regional issues.
Highlighting the discrepancy, Saif noted that the KP government does not object to foreign visits by the Chief Ministers of other provinces. Drawing a comparison, he referred to Maryam Nawaz’s diplomatic efforts with India on issues like smog, stating that if such diplomatic initiatives were deemed important, the KP government should also be given the opportunity to engage with Afghanistan on a crucial matter like terrorism.
Barrister Saif cautioned that the federal government’s dual policy approach was fostering a growing sense of deprivation among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He warned that this could have negative repercussions for national unity and stability.
The provincial government has called on the federal authorities to rise above politics and take immediate, practical steps to combat terrorism in KP, with hopes for a swift resolution to the matter.
