K-P CM Sohail Afridi seeks APCs amid terror surge

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called on the federal government to provide armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the province, saying K-P continues to face the impact of escalating terrorist violence.

Afridi made the demand during a press conference in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday alongside former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur. He was speaking a day after a deadly attack in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan left at least 12 people dead and 35 others injured.

The attack targeted a joint checkpoint near Aman Mela. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the incident. A Rescue 1122 official was also killed when an ambulance carrying victims came under fire near Daraban, while two other rescue workers sustained serious injuries.

Condemning the attack, Afridi said civilians and security personnel in the province were continuing to lose their lives in terrorist incidents. He maintained that the provincial government had repeatedly warned about the deteriorating security situation.

The chief minister said the K-P government had allocated Rs35 billion to the police for maintaining law and order. He added that the people of the province wanted peace and security.

Afridi said the provincial government had requested APCs from the federal authorities and claimed that the equipment had not been provided despite payments being made. He urged Islamabad to fulfil the province’s requirements and strengthen its security capabilities.

He said the provincial government would not support security policies made without consulting the people of K-P. According to Afridi, a lasting solution to terrorism requires the involvement and confidence of local communities.

The chief minister also rejected what he described as a false narrative about the people of K-P. He said residents of the province were aware of the sacrifices made by civilians and security personnel during years of violence.

Afridi said the government was committed to combating terrorism and that anyone taking up arms against Pakistan would be treated as a terrorist. He also said the security situation in K-P and Balochistan had worsened significantly.

He announced that people killed during the current wave of terrorism would receive compensation under the government’s martyr package.

K-P has witnessed several deadly attacks in recent days. A blast at a mosque in Kohat’s Police Lines last week killed 23 people, including 15 police personnel. Eight militants were subsequently killed during a search and clearance operation.

Security forces have also conducted operations against militants following the recent attacks. Pakistan has carried out air and ground operations near the Afghan border, while its air defence systems have intercepted drones entering Pakistani airspace.