Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that his government will not forcibly deport Afghan nationals from the province.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said, “If any Afghan wants to return voluntarily, we will facilitate them, but no one will be expelled by force.”
He stressed that sustainable peace in the region is impossible without stability in Afghanistan, adding that current unrest stems from “our flawed policies” which forced people to take up arms, Express News reported.
Gandapur said that rebuilding trust and ensuring peace in Afghanistan and the border areas is critical for regional stability. “We won’t deploy force. Neither the provincial police nor administration will evict anyone. Instead, we will set up camps to assist those wishing to return voluntarily,” he added.
Criticising the federal government, the K-P CM said Pakistan’s foreign office is directing talks with Afghanistan, but the federal policy on Afghan refugees is “fundamentally flawed.”
On terrorism, Gandapur claimed that Pakistan faces violence partly because it is an Islamic state and “the region is where the Ghazwa-e-Hind is expected.”
He linked terrorism to international interests, saying US-Pakistan agreements had pointed to the region’s rich mineral resources, after which violence intensified.
He concluded by stating that negotiations with Afghanistan should be in Pakistan’s interest and must be pursued if a viable path emerges.
