Editorial
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s shifting position on military operations exposes the deep political and institutional fractures within Pakistan’s security governance. At one moment, he calls the armed forces “guests” in the province; at another, he accuses them of killing innocents in Bajaur. Now, before a PTI rally in Peshawar, he has declared that the KP government “does not support any operation or displacement,” calling instead for dialogue with Afghanistan.
This inconsistency reflects more than personal indecision. It demonstrates PTI’s strategic dilemma: appealing to anti-war sentiments in KP while avoiding direct confrontation with the military establishment. Gandapur insists on peace and opposes drone strikes, yet only days earlier admitted that the military holds the constitutional right to conduct such operations. This duality creates confusion, erodes public trust, and weakens the provincial government’s credibility.
The political theatre in Peshawar highlights PTI’s broader narrative of injustice — linking military operations, Imran Khan’s imprisonment, and electoral grievances into one chain of state oppression. Leaders like Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja frame the struggle as existential: either Pakistan restores democracy and justice, or it descends into permanent authoritarianism. Their rhetoric resonates with frustrated voters, but risks inflaming divisions with the security establishment at a time of rising militancy.
The fundamental question remains: can PTI offer a coherent security policy that balances the demand for peace in KP with the reality of terrorism? Mere slogans against operations or appeals to Afghan jirgas are insufficient. Pakistan needs clarity, constitutional responsibility, and institutional consensus — not populist contradictions. Gandapur’s words may energize PTI rallies, but without a credible policy, they will deepen the gap between citizens and the state.
