The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga, held at the provincial assembly, has called on the federal government to consult the province in shaping Pakistan’s Afghan foreign policy. The jirga also decided that the provincial police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) will take the lead in ensuring internal security. Representatives from major political parties, including PTI, ANP, PPP, and Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the meeting, marking a rare display of unity across political lines.
According to the 15-point declaration, the jirga unanimously condemned terrorism in the merged districts and across the province. It stressed that the provincial assembly should be taken into confidence on all counterterrorism measures and that existing resolutions on law and order must be implemented immediately. The declaration emphasized that police and CTD would lead all internal security operations while retaining the constitutional right to seek assistance from other institutions when necessary.
Read more: KP Chief Minister urges open dialogue to end terrorism
The jirga also urged the government to provide financial support to police and CTD, improve their operational capacity, and formulate a strict policy against extortion and illegal taxation. It called for establishing peace forums at the provincial level with majority representation from civil society members. These steps, the jirga noted, would help strengthen trust between the public and law enforcement agencies.
In addition, the declaration proposed constitutional amendments to ensure the financial stability and authority of local governments. It recommended linking the Provincial Finance Commission with the National Finance Commission and suggested reducing tensions between the federal and provincial governments through regular meetings of the Council of Common Interests.
Read more: Minister reaffirms commitment to lasting peace ahead of peace jirga
Finally, the jirga advised the provincial government to formulate its own action plan for peace and immediately reopen the Pakistan-Afghanistan border for trade. It urged that the federal government include provincial representatives in decisions related to Afghan foreign policy to ensure coordinated and effective governance.