Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur stated that "good Taliban" still exist in the province, but the Bannu cantonment attack was carried out by "bad Taliban." He questioned the army's operations.
Pakistan News: Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has openly opposed the army and government policies. He has clarified that he will not permit any military operations in his province. Gandapur stated that for every terrorist killed by the Pakistani army, more infiltrate from Afghanistan, leaving the problem unresolved.
Halt on Army Operations
In an interview with a private TV channel, Gandapur said his government will no longer allow the army to conduct any military campaigns. He believes that the current security crisis facing Pakistan should be addressed through political and diplomatic means, not military operations.
Growing Terrorism Challenges
Gandapur claimed that an estimated 9,500 to 11,500 terrorists have already infiltrated his area, while twice that number may be present across the border. Questioning the army and government policies, he argued that if military action alone could eliminate terrorism, the problem would have been solved by now.
Questioning the National Security Meeting
Regarding the National Security Committee meeting held two days prior, Gandapur stated it was more a presentation of facts than a discussion. He also alluded to the ongoing conflict between Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the army. Relations between the PTI and the army have been strained since the fall of Imran Khan's government in 2022.
The "Good Taliban" – "Bad Taliban" Controversy
Gandapur also explained that "good Taliban" are still present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the attack on the Bannu cantonment earlier this month was carried out by "bad Taliban." He clarified that Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Noor Wali Mehsud were previously considered "good Taliban," but are now deemed "bad Taliban." Gandapur believes Pakistan needs to review its Taliban policy.
Demand for Provincial Rights Protection
Gandapur and his party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, emphasize provincial autonomy. They believe that maintaining law and order and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be the responsibility of the provincial government and police, not the army. They argue that army intervention infringes on provincial rights. He mentioned that upon becoming Chief Minister, the police complained that the army's presence hindered their work.
Need for a New Strategy for a Lasting Solution
Gandapur believes that large-scale military operations are not a sustainable solution to terrorism. He advocates for intelligence-based operations and strengthening local police forces instead. He stated that targeted operations are already underway and will continue, but full-scale military campaigns are unnecessary.
