Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Sohail Afridi said on Wednesday that civilian deaths resulting from anti-terror operations could not be considered collateral damage but amounted to “war crimes”.
He made the remarks while speaking to the media after chairing the first meeting of the newly formed Parliamentary Security Committee in Peshawar.
Also Read: Chief Minister Afridi rejects military operations, demands 550bn rupees for tribal districts
Sohail Afridi said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly had recently held a prolonged session on law and order, following which Speaker Babar Saleem Swati constituted a special committee to address the province’s security challenges. “Today was the first meeting of that committee, and we discussed various aspects related to peace and stability in the province,” he stated.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the committee would play a vital role in resolving multiple issues related to law and order. “This committee will help us find practical solutions to many of our security problems,” he said.
Commenting on civilian losses during counter-terror operations, Sohail Afridi drew a comparison with international standards. “According to international standards, if two civilians die among 100 terrorists, it is considered acceptable collateral damage. But here, we witness the martyrdom of 21 civilians — this is not collateral damage, it is a war crime,” he asserted.
Also Read: Sohail Afridi Elected New Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sohail Afridi reiterated his commitment to ensuring accountability and minimizing civilian harm during security operations. “Our parliamentary committee will also work toward addressing this serious issue,” he added.
The Chief Minister’s remarks underscored his firm stance on protecting civilian lives while maintaining security operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the provincial government was determined to strengthen peace and security mechanisms through democratic oversight and institutional collaboration.
