'They manufacture terrorism for their own agenda': Pakistan's own CM exposes its terror policy

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi - File Photo

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has openly accused Islamabad of fabricating terrorism for political gain, exposing what he described as Pakistan’s “manufactured” terror policy that thrives on fake attacks and the suffering of ordinary citizens. In a scathing statement reported by TOLO News, Afridi said that the federal government was deliberately staging terrorist incidents in the Khyber region while obstructing genuine peace efforts.

“Pakistan manufactures terrorism for its own agenda,” says Afridi

Afridi alleged that powerful circles in Islamabad have long benefited from chaos in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), keeping the province trapped in a cycle of violence to serve their own interests. “The mindset that has dominated Pakistan for 71 years and never wanted peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has proven, through the abduction of our guests, that this terrorism is completely fabricated,” he said. “They manipulate peace as per their interests, not the people's will.”

His remarks came after the abduction of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) members who attended a provincial Peace Jirga, a traditional assembly meant to promote dialogue and reconciliation. Afridi condemned the incident as a deliberate attempt by Islamabad to derail the peace process and block the province’s renewed outreach to Afghanistan.

“People of KP are fed up with self-made terrorism”

Afridi, who was sworn in as KP’s 30th Chief Minister last month, said the people of the province are exhausted by decades of manipulation from the centre. He accused the Pakistani establishment of staging attacks, silencing dissent, and destroying local efforts to restore peace.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are fed up with this self-made terrorism and decisions made behind closed doors, decisions that have been imposed on us for years,” Afridi said. “Today I say clearly: just as my leader Imran Khan never bowed to you, I will not bow either. Anyone who disrupts our peace is our common enemy. Anyone who disrespects religious values is our common enemy. And they must know that we will never surrender.”

Afridi’s comments have intensified pressure on Islamabad, which has struggled to contain a surge in violence across KP amid growing resentment among Pashtuns and tribal communities. His accusations come at a time when the federal government faces rising criticism for its military tactics and alleged human rights abuses in the region.

Pakistan accused of targeting civilians under guise of counter-terror operations

The Chief Minister also took aim at the country’s armed forces, accusing them of using counter-terrorism operations as a cover to target civilians. “They call it a war on terror, but they are killing our own people,” Afridi alleged, describing the operations in Pashtun-dominated areas as a pattern of war crimes.

Just two months ago, reports emerged of a Pakistan Air Force strike in Matre Dara village in KP’s Tirah Valley that killed at least 30 civilians, including women and children. Afridi said such incidents expose the “brutality and deception” behind Islamabad’s military policy.

Long history of manipulation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), has long been a hub of insurgency, largely due to its proximity to Afghanistan, porous borders, and deep-rooted tribal autonomy. For decades, the region has borne the brunt of Pakistan’s military experiments and shifting alliances with militant groups.

Afridi said that the same forces responsible for destabilising KP were now trying to sabotage peace with Afghanistan. His statement followed recent border clashes between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban in Kurram district, highlighting the deepening tensions along the frontier.

“They are the enemies of peace”

Afridi accused Islamabad of deliberately provoking instability in the border regions to justify continued militarisation. “Anyone who disrupts our peace is our common enemy,” he said, declaring that his government would not bow to the “old order” that has long controlled KP through fear.

His criticism also came after Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, which hit cricket players and civilian sites including schools in Kabul and Paktika. Afridi said such reckless military actions were consistent with Islamabad’s history of aggression and deception.

“The people of KP have suffered enough,” Afridi said, warning that his province would not tolerate policies that trade human lives for political leverage.

Afridi’s remarks mark one of the sharpest public indictments by a sitting provincial chief minister against the Pakistani establishment, laying bare how Islamabad’s obsession with control and military dominance continues to fuel instability, both at home and across its borders.