ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said on Tuesday that his party was accountable to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and would never act against their interests, rejecting what he called efforts to brand dissenters as “anti-state.”
His statement came in response to recent remarks by Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), who had ruled out “appeasement of terrorists or their facilitators” during a press briefing in Peshawar.
The ISPR chief had criticised calls by Imran — currently in jail — for direct negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, stressing that the security of Pakistan would not be compromised.
‘Answerable to the People of KP, Not to DG ISPR’
In a message posted on his official X account, Imran congratulated KP MPAs on electing Sohail Afridi as the new chief minister, calling him his “opening batsman.” He also praised Ali Amin Gandapur for stepping down gracefully.
“The PTI has been given a mandate by the people of KP and we are answerable to them, not the DG ISPR. Therefore, we will never go against the interests of the people of Pakistan and the province,” Imran said.
He warned against the “dangerous” practice of labelling political opponents as traitors, stressing that criticising state policies is a democratic right.
Call for Political Strategy Over Military Operations
Imran reiterated that military operations alone are not a solution to terrorism in KP, pointing out that decades of operations have failed to eradicate the threat.
“Military operations in KP are unacceptable because innocent people are martyred in the name of collateral damage,” he said. “An effective, comprehensive strategy based on political insight is needed, not decisions taken behind closed doors.”
The PTI founder stressed the need to involve local tribes, provincial and federal governments, and the Afghan authorities in any counterterrorism strategy, arguing that dialogue with Kabul is essential for sustainable peace.
Rejects Enmity Narrative with Army
Imran rejected the notion of a rift with the military, saying:
“The army is mine, the country is mine, and its people are also mine.”
He mentioned that members of his family have served in the armed forces and expressed sorrow over the loss of soldiers’ lives in the fight against terrorism.
Rising Border Tensions
Imran’s statement came amid rising cross-border tensions following an unprovoked attack by Afghan Taliban forces on Pakistani posts over the weekend. According to ISPR, 23 Pakistani troops were martyred and more than 200 militants were killed in retaliatory strikes.
Afghanistan claimed it was responding to airstrikes allegedly carried out by Islamabad, which Pakistan has not confirmed. Clashes reportedly resumed last night in Kurram District.
