ISLAMABAD:
The federal government on Monday vehemently criticized Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for questioning claims that Afghan soil was being used for terror attacks against Pakistan, prompting harsh reactions from several ministers who accused the PTI of undermining the national narrative on terrorism.
The controversy erupted after Afridi, speaking during a media interaction at PTI leader Alamgir Khan’s residence in Karachi on Sunday night, said the state should present evidence to support allegations that Afghanistan’s territory was being used for terrorism in Pakistan.
He also commented that other countries that share borders with Afghanistan did not have similar complaints.
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“The entire world has seen evidence of the Afghan Taliban regime’s support for terrorists, and there is also irrefutable evidence that Afghanistan’s soil is being used for terrorist activities,” Tarar said.
He added that “Sohail Afridi has reached the height of lies and hypocrisy”, arguing that Pakistan had made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and alleging that the PTI had repeatedly facilitated terrorists.
“Pakistan’s development is unacceptable to Fitna al Khawarij and that is why Pakistan is the target,” he said, adding that Afridi needed to “come to his senses.”
Later in the day, Tarar reiterated the government’s stance while addressing the Qaumi Paigham-e-Amman Committee conference in Islamabad.
He said terrorist elements would not be allowed to promote their narrative or ideology and emphasized that the nation remains united in its determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms through both kinetic and non-kinetic means.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, efforts were being made to reinforce the national narrative and counter anti-state designs.
‘PTI sowing doubts’
Speaking separately to the media in Islamabad, Minister of State for Home Affairs Talal Chaudhry accused the PTI of constantly creating uncertainty on national security issues.
“They are always reluctant to call terrorists terrorists and say things that sow doubts among the common man,” he said, adding that neighboring countries were involved, one “investing” and the other “implementing” terrorism.
“The KP CM once again said in Karachi that we should provide the Afghan government with evidence of terrorist activities. Still don’t know who is behind the terrorism?”
He said at least two dozen countries had pointed out that Afghan soil was being used for terrorism and accused the PTI of deliberately sowing doubt, opposing military operations, resisting the expulsion of illegal Afghan citizens and preferring negotiations to action.
“There must be a reason for this soft attitude,” Talal said.
“They have something in common, and I will put it on record: there has not been a single attack against any PTI leader, worker, advisor, minister in the last 11 years,” he alleged.
He accused the party of creating ambiguity so that militant groups could operate in KP and gain public sympathy.
Questioning the PTI’s street movement, Talal asked if the party leaders had met the families of the martyrs.
“You are against the national narrative because you are a beneficiary,” he said, warning that no individual, regardless of their position, would be allowed to speak against the national narrative or create doubt.
He said the PTI could lead “100 political movements” but no soft stance on terrorism would be tolerated.
“We’ll send them where we’ll send them. If you have that much empathy for them, then go to Afghanistan,” he said.
Citing the toll of violence, Talal said more than 1,200 people had been martyred, families and children had been killed in shelling, and that 60 to 70 percent of those incidents occurred in KP.
He accused the PTI of trying to create unrest to weaken the state for political influence and warned that sympathizers would be treated as terrorists.
“There is no room for terrorism in Pakistan,” he said, adding that no one will be allowed to “play with the blood” of Pakistanis through narratives or weapons.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described Afridi’s comments as “disturbing” and noted that KP had witnessed the highest number of terror incidents.
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“Our demand was that they take control of the situation,” he said.
Questioning whether the KP CM recognized the sacrifices of security forces and civilians, he linked major attacks, including the bombing outside a district court in Islamabad, to Afghanistan.
“His statement today is like pouring salt into the wounds of the families of the martyrs and the murdered civilians,” he said.
Chaudhry said Pakistan had presented evidence and images at international forums showing terrorists crossing from Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan remained a friendly country to Afghanistan and had hosted around four million Afghan refugees for decades, but added that internal security could not be compromised.
“The security of Pakistan and the security of the people are our responsibility and we will fulfill it under any circumstances,” he said, warning that continued attacks will find a firm response.
