- Multiple-party Jirga urges federal government to consult KP on Afghan policy for lasting regional stability
- Lawmakers emphasize dialogue, diplomacy, and provincial rights as pillars for sustainable peace
- Demand reopening of all trade routes and stronger border economy with Afghanistan, calling implementation of KP Assembly resolutions on peace
- PFC proposed to ensure equitable resource distribution across KP, security forces lauded for sacrifices
- CM Afridi stresses inclusive counterterrorism policy, involving all stakeholders and political parties
- Opposition and coalition parties unite, setting aside political differences for province-wide peace
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Grand Peace Jirga on Wednesday underscored “the urgency of provincial peace and national stability,” calling on the federal government to prioritise dialogue with Afghanistan, consult the provincial government on Afghan policy, and develop a provincial action plan for lasting peace. The jirga also urged reopening trade routes, strengthening law enforcement, and establishing a Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) for equitable resource distribution.
The jirga also demanded the establishment of a Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) to ensure equitable distribution of financial resources across KP, alongside strengthening law enforcement agencies to counter the recent surge in terrorist activity.
Convened by the KP government to assess the province’s law and order situation, the grand jirga came nearly two weeks after a similar meeting in Khyber district on October 25, where CM Sohail Afridi had cautioned against launching any new military operations in the tribal districts.
A broad-based participation
The gathering, chaired by KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, drew former governors, chief ministers, tribal elders, lawmakers, representatives of all political parties in KP—both provincial and national assembly members—legal experts, business leaders, media representatives, and civil society members. Attendees submitted written recommendations and shared insights during speeches, with a strong consensus in favour of engaging the Afghan Taliban regime for lasting peace, including consultation with the provincial government before federal decisions impacting KP. Participants also emphasised resolving differences between the federal and provincial authorities for the broader public interest.
Following hours of deliberation, the jirga issued a declaration condemning terrorist attacks in KP, especially in the merged districts, and urged the provincial government to utilise all available resources to eliminate militancy.
پشاور:خیبرپختونخوا اسمبلی امن جرگے کا اعلامیہ جاری کردیا گیا
پشاور:امن جرگے اعلامیہ پر اسپیکر سمیت 21 جرگہ ممبرز کے دستخط موجود
امن جرگہ تجویز کرتا ہے کہ صوبائی حکومت ،اسمبلی صوبائی ایکشن پلان مرتب کرے،اعلامیہ
پاک افغان کے تمام تاریخی تجارتی راستوں کو فلفور کھول دیا جائے،… pic.twitter.com/F7zrzQh6O3
— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) November 12, 2025
Lawmakers demanded in-camera briefings on ongoing counterterrorism operations, alongside immediate implementation of all KP Assembly resolutions for peace. They proposed the creation of peace forums incorporating youth, women, minorities, and politicians, and recommended linking the PFC with the National Finance Commission (NFC) to ensure financial stability and local government empowerment.
خیبر پختونخوا امن جرگے کا باقاعدہ آغاز ہو گیا. تقریب کا آغاز صوبے کے تمام شہداء کے لیے دعا مغفرت سے کیا گیا۔#KPAmanJirga pic.twitter.com/FCk368DQVd
— Chief Minister KP (@KPChiefMinister) November 12, 2025
Financial and administrative demands included KP’s rights to Net-Hydel Profit, federal excise duty on oil, water share, precedence of natural gas, NFC allocations for merged districts, implementation of the 11th NFC Award, Galyat Drinking Water initiative, and execution of Article 151 for wheat supply to the province.
CM Afridi calls for policy shift
Addressing the jirga, CM Sohail Afridi called for a fundamental shift in the federal counterterrorism approach, urging inclusion of all stakeholders in policymaking. “I expect that a durable and permanent solution to this menace of terrorism, which has plagued KP for over 20 years, will be found,” he said, stressing that decision-making must move beyond closed rooms, acknowledging the intelligence and wisdom of all political actors, stakeholders, and schools of thought. Afridi added that the policy must ensure lasting peace, preventing resurgence of terrorism in coming years.
The chief minister also reiterated KP’s demand for full NFC share, estimated at Rs400 billion, noting that while administrative merger of the former tribal districts is complete, the economic integration remains unfulfilled. “Our politics may differ, but our peace is shared,” Afridi said, highlighting sacrifices made by security forces and the public in countering militancy.
Governor Kundi urges unity
Governor Ahmad Karim Kundi hailed the jirga as “an excellent move reflecting collective wisdom, seriousness, and national unity.” He called for the formation of a committee including parliamentary leaders from all parties, even those outside the provincial legislature, to ensure continuity and reduce inter-party differences. Kundi highlighted Afghanistan’s unstable environment, noting that foreign interventions leave behind weapons now used against Pakistan. “We must set aside politics and focus on the province’s prosperity and development,” he said, assuring KP’s support in negotiations with Islamabad for provincial rights.
پشاور: صوبائی حکومت کے زیر اہتمام “خیبر پختونخوا امن جرگہ” صوبائی اسمبلی میں جاری ہے۔ عوامی نیشنل پارٹی کا وفد صوبائی صدر میاں افتخار حسین کی زیر قیادت جرگہ میں شریک ہے۔ وفد میں صوبائی جنرل سیکرٹری حسین شاہ یوسفزئی اور جائنٹ سیکرٹری حامد طوفان شامل ہیں۔ #ANP | #ANPPakhtunkhwa pic.twitter.com/jZPcR7jt8v
— Awami National Party (@ANPMarkaz) November 12, 2025
Diplomatic solutions and regional context
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser emphasised using diplomatic channels with Kabul, underscoring that Pakistan and Afghanistan’s stability are interlinked. Former National Assembly Speaker Junaid Akbar reminded participants that decisions to intervene in Afghan conflicts historically were driven by military strategy, not politics, and stressed consensus with political leadership before future interventions.
عوامی نیشنل پارٹی کے اراکین صوبائی اسمبلی ارباب محمد عثمان خان، نثار باز، شاہدہ وحید ہوتی اور خدیجہ بی بی بھی جرگہ میں شریک ہیں۔
#ANP | #ANPPakhtunkhwa pic.twitter.com/PdHPCwqdyC— Awami National Party (@ANPMarkaz) November 12, 2025
The jirga opened with prayers for those martyred in terrorism. ANP President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, former JI emir Sirajul Haq, PPP provincial leader Akhunzada Chattan, and delegations from JUI-F and PkMAP participated actively. Former CM Mehmood Khan, ex-governor Shaukatullah Khan, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party chairman Afzal Shah Khamosh, and representatives from civil society and legal sectors also attended.
Context of terrorism and recent attacks
The moot occurred amid a spate of terrorist attacks across Pakistan, including the Islamabad Judicial Complex blast killing 12 people, a bomb attack targeting security personnel in Dera Ismail Khan injuring 14, and the South Waziristan Cadet College Wana attack, which resulted in three martyrs despite all students being rescued. Former KP minister Kamran Khan Bangash labelled these attacks a conspiracy to sabotage the peace process, stating, “The enemies of peace will fail, and peace is our future.”
خیبرپختونخوا اسمبلی ہال میں کچھ دیر بعد تمام سیاسی جماعتیں اور مکاتبِ فکر کے نمائندے صوبے میں امن کے لیے سرجوڑ کر بیٹھیں گے۔ جرگے سے قبل بنوں، وانا اور اسلام آباد میں امن دشمنوں کی کارروائیاں امن عمل کو سبوتاژ کرنے کی سازش ہیں، امن دُشمن ناکام ہونگے اور امن ہی ہمارا مستقبل ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/dhiBnmRDEE
— Kamran Khan Bangash 🇵🇰 (@kamrankbangash) November 12, 2025
Political unity and consensus
Speakers from opposition parties stressed that peace must take precedence over politics. ANP leaders rejected the “good Taliban, bad Taliban” narrative, advocating full implementation of the National Action Plan and engagement of all stakeholders. Ex-CM Mehmood Khan questioned why past peace jirgas failed to yield results, urging the formation of a representative forum to address provincial rights with the federal government. PTI’s Qaiser and PML-N’s Ibadullah Khan emphasised a collective, single-point agenda focused on counterterrorism, with no compromise on dealing with terrorists.
PPP parliamentary leader Ahmad Karim Kundi noted the jirga represented the will of KP’s 40 million residents, marking the first time a provincial assembly convened such a comprehensive multi-party peace gathering. Leaders underscored that peace in KP is tied to resolving Pak-Afghan tensions, reopening trade routes, and promoting border economies, while ensuring provincial rights and federal consultation on security matters.
Analysts termed the KP Grand Peace Jirga as a historic and unprecedented gathering that brought together political, civil, and tribal leaders, reiterating provincial unity, consultation with the federal government, and a comprehensive strategy against terrorism. With ongoing challenges in KP and across Pakistan, the jirga set the stage for coordinated provincial-federal action, diplomatic engagement with Kabul, and long-term peace initiatives aimed at ensuring security, development, and stability for the province and the nation.
