PESHAWAR – Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has categorically rejected new military operation will be accepted in the tribal districts. Addressing the Khyber peace jirga, Afridi demanded the immediate release of 550bn rupees for the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts.
“We will not accept another military operation,” he declared. ” Our people have already paid the highest price for Pakistan’s peace.” Afridi’s words struck a deep chord with the tribal elders and political leaders who had gathered in Khyber. For decades, the tribal belt has been the theatre of longest-running conflicts — displacements, operations, promises, and betrayals. This time, the chief minister made it clear that the people of the merged districts were done with bearing the cost of wars they did not start.
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“After 9/11, a foreign war was imposed on us,” he said, recalling the years of devastation. “Our homes were destroyed, our families displaced. We gave sacrifices for Pakistan, but those sacrifices cannot continue endlessly.” Afridi reminded the crowd that the tribal people had guarded Pakistan’s borders “without pay” and that their loyalty had never been in doubt. “We stood with the country when it needed us most,” he said, ” but we will not stand for another round of suffering.”
As the jirga continued, Afridi’s tone turned sharper, shifting from resistance to demand. He accused the federal government of neglecting the promises made after the merger of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Five hundred and fifty billion rupees belong to us,” he said. ” Those funds must be released immediately. The development of the merged districts cannot wait.”
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The chief minister said that during military operations and their aftermath, several commitments were made to the tribal population, yet none had been honored. “We are tired of empty pledges,” he said. ” We were promised 100bn rupees annually after the merger — where is that money? We do not need second-hand vehicles for our police or symbolic gestures. We want our rights.”
Afridi urged the federal authorities to convene the National Finance Commission award as soon as possible to ensure Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receives its due share. “The NFC award must reflect our contribution, our sacrifices, and our rightful place in the federation,” he asserted.
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Despite his criticism of military operations, Afridi was careful to clarify that his opposition was not against the security forces. “Our police and soldiers have laid down their lives for peace,” he said. ” We stand shoulder to shoulder with them against terrorism. But we cannot allow decisions about our lives to be made in closed rooms. The people of these lands must have a say.”
From the stage, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders echoed his demands. Senator Noor-ul-Haq Qadri praised the chief minister for voicing what he called the “true feelings of the tribal people.” He said, ” Sohail Afridi’s leadership reflects the pain and pride of the tribes. The time has come to replace military operations with dialogue and development.”
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PTI’s Member of the National Assembly Iqbal Afridi reinforced the message, stating that “the parliament must decide national policies, not secret meetings.” He warned that without economic justice and independent institutions, peace would remain fragile.
By the end of the jirga, Afridi’s twin demands — no new military operations and the immediate release of 550bn rupees — had become more than political statements. The tribal people, long treated as a buffer zone in the state’s security policies, were asserting their right to peace, progress, and participation.
CM Sohail Afridi’s final words captured the day’s defiant spirit: “As long as I am chief minister, I will not allow another operation on this land. Our people deserve development, not destruction. We want our share, our rights, and our future — nothing less.”
