Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has received support from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, who argued that the 18th Constitutional Amendment permits the CM of any province to travel abroad and enter into agreements. He said that since Shahbaz Sharif, when he was Chief Minister of Punjab, traveled to many nations and signed numerous agreements, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is entitled to the same privileges. In this regard, he met with the Consul General of Afghanistan to discuss matters about trade, bilateral cooperation, and regional peace.
Barrister Saif fails to mention that the Chief Minister had previously declared his intention to initiate direct negotiations with Afghanistan to bring about peace in the province. It is undeniable that the Chief Minister ought to convene such meetings. The matter that is not brought up in the discussion is whether or not a chief minister can engage with a foreign government on extremely sensitive and complicated matters without the approval or authority of the federal government.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is extremely complicated, and even after 2021, the Afghan government continues to support Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is banned. Because of this mindset, Pakistan and Afghanistan are now at odds with one another. Over a dozen Afghan personnel were killed in clashes in Kurram and the surrounding areas this month. Pakistan has also launched multiple strikes on targets inside Afghanistan during this time. However, the Afghan government disagrees that its territory is being used against Pakistan, and among other reports, organizations such as the United Nations have stated repeatedly that the TTP and Al-Qaeda are being supported by the interim Afghan government.
The provincial leaders were therefore chastised for their lack of consultation with other stakeholders and their ability to negotiate with Afghanistan in such a situation. during a conflict between the two nations. What was the conclusion of a discussion process that was started by the same party a few years ago, and what kind of “outcome” did Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receive as a result? Barrister Saif, Gandapur, and their founding chairman should also answer.
It also comes up that the TTP negotiating delegation had demanded during the aforementioned process that the Afghan government grant the tribal districts the designation of FATA once more. Will they now renounce this fundamental requirement if discussions are held with them? If not, are the province’s chief minister and his representatives willing to accept this fundamental requirement on top of a few more that have been suggested? And the unequivocal response to that query is “no.” The harsh reality is that the province’s current administration supports the Taliban in light of the ideologies and experiences of its leaders. Instead, there has been a history of risky “understanding and cooperation” over several different matters.
As a result, their “desire and effort” must be understood in this light. The situation is more complicated than it appears. In addition, the chief executives of the provincial government should consider their own “status” if they engage in negotiations with the Taliban or other groups, as they are unable to establish the authority of government in their hometown and district.
On the other hand, this proclamation and the suggested effort have been routinely mocked and referred to as an unrealistic ambition by everyone who has discussed this matter with government officials or the Afghan Taliban. According to the opposite side, the federal government and other pertinent parties will spearhead any effort or collaboration in this regard.