Peshawar, Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been facing grave law and order situations for a long time. The Kurram incidents exposed the capacity of the provincial government to deal with this issue, which is the sole responsibility of the provincial government. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a perfect example of attention being diverted from critical issues of administrative failures.
Sometimes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister attacks the federal capital and announces negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, who are providing a launching pad for terrorists to attack Pakistan.
In an unexpected and controversial move, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has announced plans to send a delegation to Afghanistan within two weeks to engage the Afghan Taliban for negotiations. Gandapur claimed, “I have spoken about Afghanistan on every forum. Permission has been granted, and we are set to send our first delegation soon.” Under Pakistan’s constitution, foreign policy and diplomatic relations are exclusive domains of the federal government, leaving no room for a provincial Chief Minister to engage directly with a neighboring country. Critics argue that Gandapur’s move is both unconstitutional and a diversion from his administration’s mounting failures.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently grappling with a surge in terrorism, deteriorating governance, and a complete standstill in development projects. Instead of addressing these pressing issues, Gandapur’s focus on Afghanistan has drawn backlash from political circles and civil society alike. As of now, there has been no clarification from the federal government on whether the KP administration has been authorized to engage directly with Afghanistan. However, the move has already sparked a constitutional debate and intensified criticism of the Gandapur-led government.
On the other hand, TTPs (officially called Khwarjis) are patrolling freely in Mardan District. According to reports, Taliban militants are patrolling on Charsadda Road near Saleem Khan in Mardan District which has raised alarm over the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, as Mardan and Charsadda, being major settled districts, were previously considered secure zones.
Eyewitnesses reported armed Taliban members openly patrolling the area, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among residents. Despite the glaring threat, the KP government and Mardan Range Police, under the supervision of RPO Mardan, have failed to address the deteriorating security situation. This negligence has left citizens questioning the effectiveness of the administration and law enforcement agencies.
The rise of militant activities in settled districts underscores a severe lapse in governance and policing. Mardan, a key district with economic and social significance, has seen an alarming surge in insecurity, exposing the KP government’s inability to ensure peace in its urban centers. The incident also reflects poorly on the Mardan Range Police, whose duty to safeguard these regions appears to be compromised.
Residents are demanding urgent action, fearing the region could spiral further into chaos if militant activities remain unchecked. The visible presence of Taliban militants in broad daylight is a direct challenge to the state’s authority and an alarming reminder of how insecurity has crept back into KP’s settled areas.
This incident calls for immediate reforms in the KP government’s counter-terrorism strategies and a thorough overhaul of Mardan Range Police under the RPO. The public is growing increasingly frustrated with the government’s failure to prevent such audacious displays of militant power, raising concerns over the future of law and order in the province.
