KP CM Rejects New Military Operations As PTI March Route Shifts

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressed participants of the PTI long march in Khyber district on Wednesday, saying he would oppose any fresh military operation in the province. His remarks came as the party’s protest convoy continued moving through KP after several changes in its route and schedule.

The march has been organised to press for the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. It was initially expected to move towards Khairabad, near the Punjab border, on October 8, where the next phase of the protest was to be announced. However, the latest plan shared by the chief minister’s office indicated that the convoy would now move towards Swabi before a further course of action is decided.

PTI officials also indicated that the route remains fluid. A party social media representative said the final destination had not been fixed, while another update suggested that the convoy would reach Peshawar on Thursday and spend the night in Charsadda. PTI MNA Sajid Khan Mohmand said the chief minister was expected to reach Mohmand on October 9 and address a gathering at Mian Mandi Bazaar on October 10.

The protest began after earlier talks between the federal government and PTI failed to resolve differences. Those talks reportedly broke down over multiple issues, including counterterrorism policy in KP. The federal government has already warned the party against staging protests or gatherings in Islamabad, while PTI has continued to describe the march as part of its wider nationwide campaign.

Addressing supporters in Khyber, Afridi said he would resist what he called anti-people policies and would not support another operation in the province while serving as chief minister. His comments referenced the sensitivity of military action in tribal districts, particularly after past displacement in areas such as Tirah, where residents had vacated homes for security operations.

The chief minister also accused the federal government of failing to release sufficient funds for the merged tribal districts. He said the provincial government had released Rs21 billion for families affected by military operations and argued that KP should not be blamed for non-cooperation on counterterrorism while similar security challenges also exist in Balochistan.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi challenged the PTI to proceed through Swabi, sharpening the political standoff between the provincial administration and its opponents. The dispute has placed the march at the centre of a broader confrontation over security policy, provincial authority and the federal government’s handling of PTI’s mobilisation.

The next major development is expected when the convoy reaches its next announced stop and PTI leaders clarify whether the march will continue towards Islamabad or remain within KP. For Pakistan, the immediate impact is political uncertainty, possible road disruptions and a deeper debate over how counterterrorism decisions should be made in provinces directly affected by militancy.