Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur warned that Afghanistan’s instability directly affects his province’s security, urging dialogue with Kabul as the only sustainable path toward peace.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that instability in Afghanistan directly affects his province’s security, warning that peace in the region is impossible without constructive dialogue with Kabul.
Speaking in Peshawar during a session with participants of the “National Security and War Course” from Pakistan’s National Defence University, Gandapur highlighted that both security forces and ordinary citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He stressed that negotiations with the Afghan Taliban are essential for a long-term solution, noting that the federal government has endorsed his proposal for political engagement as a viable path forward.
The Chief Minister also addressed the prolonged presence of Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as a serious challenge that demands a “dignified and cautious” response from Islamabad. He warned that mismanaging the issue could further destabilize the province.
Gandapur added that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain deeply interconnected, making cross-border cooperation vital to achieving stability and easing security concerns on both sides of the border.
his remarks underscore a growing consensus in Pakistan that Afghanistan’s stability is crucial for its own internal security. The call for dialogue reflects a shift from confrontation toward political solutions.
However, analysts caution that success will depend on how the federal government balances refugee policy with counterterrorism measures, while ensuring that cross-border negotiations lead to practical outcomes rather than symbolic statements.
