Former Prime Minister on Monday said Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai should lead a “peace delegation” to Afghanistan to seek through dialogue a solution to the ongoing tensions with the neighboring state.
Achakzai is currently in alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) under the umbrella of the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ain.
In a message conveyed through his family members at Adiala Jail—posted on his official X account, which he has no access to while incarcerated—Khan alleged a “false flag operation” in the offing against Afghans. He accused Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir of “deliberately” worsening ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan to provoke a war “in order to please the lobby opposing the current Afghan government and to attempt to present himself as a ‘savior’ in front of the West.”
He claimed Islamabad had “threatened” the Afghan government and then forcibly expelled refugees from the country. “After that, attacks were carried out on Afghan soil, and now, under the pretext that ‘terrorists have arrived,’ operations have been launched in tribal areas,” he added.
The PTI founder claimed these policies had led to martyrdom of civilians, soldiers and police personnel. “This approach never establishes peace; lasting peace is always achieved through dialogue,” he said, claiming peace in Afghanistan and the tribal areas required the cooperation of the people of the tribal areas, the people of Afghanistan, and the Afghan government.
He reiterated claims of ongoing military operations in KP aiming to make the PTI government “unpopular,” adding such actions further increase terrorism. “A similar policy was adopted during the ANP government’s tenure,” he said, referring to the provincial government that preceded the PTI forming the government in KP in 2013. He urged all lawmakers of KP to sit with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and find solutions to the issues of the province as quickly as possible.
Electoral rigging
In his conversation with his family, Khan also referred to a leaked report, compiled by the Commonwealth Observer Group, regarding the 2024 general elections. He alleged the Government of Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had colluded to hide electoral theft. He also declared Liaquat Chatha, the former Rawalpindi commissioner, as praiseworthy.
“The time to legally accept a government established through rigging has now ended. That is why resignations have been submitted from the Senate and parliamentary committees,” he said.
The PTI founder also reiterated his allegations of ill-treatment in prison and urged his party to remain united against oppression.
“An announcement should be made for a grand rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in which people from all over the country participate and stand against this dark night,” he added.
Peshawar rally
Later, KP C.M. Gandapur urged party workers to gather in Peshawar on Sept. 27 to attend the party’s rally. Declaring the gathering a “decisive” moment, he said everyone must participate to make it a success.
“If we want real freedom, we have to stay united—this is still the PTI founder’s message. We cannot afford infighting or pulling each other down,” he said. “Without strength, neither negotiations happen, nor wars are won,” he said, warning that ongoing restrictions on the party’s meetings with Khan risked heightening tensions.