By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur convened the first in a series of regional jirgas on Saturday, aiming to chart a path toward restoring law and order in a province battered by a surge in terrorist attacks.
The gathering in Peshawar assembled tribal elders, elected officials, and government representatives to confront a worsening security crisis that has left residents clamoring for peace while resisting military operations that often bring unintended harm.
The jirga unfolds against a backdrop of mounting violence in KP and neighboring Balochistan, where terror activities have spiked since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terminated its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Gandapur signaled his intent to tackle the province’s myriad challenges through these traditional assemblies, promising a collaborative approach to decision-making.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, posted on X, said the jirga drew 150 tribal elders from Khyber and Orakzai districts, as well as the tribal subdivisions of Darra Adam Khel and Hassan Khel. Six members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), three members of the national assembly (MNAs), and one senator joined them, lending political heft to the discussions. Government officials, including the CM’s adviser on information, the KP chief secretary, the inspector general of police, and various commissioners and deputy commissioners, also attended.
The jirga issued a series of recommendations to address the security turmoil. It called for unity against terrorism as a prerequisite for peace, declaring that displacement caused by ongoing military operations was “unacceptable under any circumstances.” The statement underscored the link between stability and progress, asserting, “Development is linked to peace and it will accelerate when peace is restored.”
Resource concerns also surfaced, with the jirga emphasizing that “no one has asked for any resources of the province, including minerals, nor has it been given to anyone, nor will it be given to anyone.” This stance reflects local anxieties over the potential exploitation of KP’s assets amid the chaos.
In a striking proposal, the tribal elders urged the federal government to support a delegation of provincial officials and tribal leaders to negotiate with Afghanistan. “Tribal elders have recommended to the federal government that arrangements should be made to send a jirga of the provincial government and tribal elders for negotiations with Afghanistan,” the statement read, stressing the need for resources and cooperation to make it happen. The idea highlights the cross-border dynamics fueling KP’s security woes, with many militants believed to operate from Afghan soil.
The statement outlined an ambitious timeline for additional jirgas: the next will cover Mohmand and Bajaur districts, followed by one in North and South Waziristan, and a fourth in Kurram district. No specific dates were provided, but the process will conclude with a grand jirga chaired by Gandapur himself. “Immediately after the regional jirgas, a grand jirga will be held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister,” the statement said.
The jirga’s call for peace coincides with a military operation launched earlier this week. Dubbed “Operation Sarbakaf,” security forces, supported by gunship helicopters and artillery, targeted terrorists in Lowi Mamund tehsil, imposing a three-day curfew across 16 areas. A district administration notification cited recommendations from the district intelligence coordination committee as the basis for the restrictions.
Though security forces have not officially released casualty figures, local media reported that at least four terrorists were killed, around 12 wounded, and about 10 captured in the operation. But the toll on civilians has sparked alarm as locals say two civilians, including a child, died, and eight others, including two minors and a woman, were injured in the clashes.
The provincial government has sharply criticized the operation, arguing that the federal government failed to consult it beforehand. Chief Minister Gandapur has pledged to lift the curfew, exposing tensions between provincial and federal authorities over how best to tackle the threat.
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