MOHMAND: Awami National Party (ANP) leader and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has urged the state to prioritize diplomacy over conflict, warning that the security situation in both Pakistan and Afghanistan is worsening.
Speaking at a gathering to commemorate the death anniversaries of Khudai Khidmatgar movement founder Bacha Khan and veteran politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Hoti highlighted the sacrifices made by the people for the restoration of peace. He lamented that Pashtun blood continued to be shed on both sides of the border, while those responsible for terrorism were attempting to return and resettle in the region.
Referring to reports of an investigation against former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, Hoti demanded that before probing his alleged involvement in the Top City scandal, he should be held accountable for policies that led to violence against Pashtuns. He accused past military rulers, in collaboration with the United States, of turning Pashtun areas into battle zones, resulting in immense loss of innocent lives.
Hoti expressed concerns over the deteriorating security situation in various regions, including Mohmand, Bajaur, Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, and Tank, warning that history appeared to be repeating itself with similar experiments being conducted. He questioned who was responsible for bringing foreign fighters into Afghanistan and for promoting the culture of weapons and drugs in the region.
Commenting on the unrest in Kurram, he criticized both federal and provincial governments for neglecting the issue, which, he argued, had led to further deterioration of the situation.
The event was attended by several ANP leaders, including Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Khadija Shah Chitrali, former MPA Nisar Mohmand, Maulana Khanzeb, Syed Masoom Shah Bacha, Iftikhar Mohmand, and Meraj Khan, along with a large number of party workers.
Earlier, referring to the Ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, ANP has been clearly stating that if tensions escalated between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the ANP will strictly oppose Pakistan over Afghan policy and will take practical steps for preventing the escalation.
