Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has levelled explosive accusations against Pakistan’s federal government, claiming that Islamabad is orchestrating “fake” terror attacks in his province for political purposes. Afridi, a senior PTI leader, alleged that powerful elements in the centre are deliberately manufacturing violence to derail genuine peace efforts in the region. Afridi stated that recent terror incidents in KP were “completely fabricated” and part of a wider strategy to maintain control by creating fear and instability. He pointed to the recent abduction of activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, who had participated in a local “Peace Jirga,” as evidence that the federal government is attempting to sabotage grassroots peace-building efforts.

In his remarks, Afridi also sharply criticised the Pakistani military’s counter-terror operations. He accused security forces of targeting innocent civilians under the guise of fighting militants and described such actions as “war crimes.” According to Afridi, these operations are less about eliminating terrorism and more about strengthening the establishment’s political grip. The Pakistani military recently claimed to have killed 38 militants across four separate operations in the province. However, Afridi argued that these claims are part of a narrative created to justify continued military action and to mask the government’s alleged involvement in orchestrating violence.

Political analysts say Afridi’s accusations expose widening divisions between the KP provincial government and Islamabad, particularly in the Pashtun belt where resentment toward federal policies has been growing for years. His claims add new pressure on the central government, which is already facing criticism for its handling of rising militancy and instability. Afridi warned that the KP government will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the province’s peace efforts. He declared that “anyone who disrupts our peace is our common enemy,” asserting that the province will not back down against those he believes are responsible for manufacturing unrest.