ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s newly elected Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has thrown his weight behind the Pakistan army. He made this statement yesterday, while speaking on the Pakistan Afghanistan tensions.
The leadership of Afridi’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), especially the party founder and incarcerated former premier Imran Khan, has constantly advocated for a ‘peaceful solution’ to the Pak-Afghanistan issue, instead of a military one. Sohail Afridi was personally chosen by Imran Khan to replace Ali Amin Gandapur as the CM, but now the new provincial chief seems to have taken a dissenting stance.
In an informal conversation with journalists on Saturday, Afridi expressing unwavering support for the military, saying that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands firmly with the armed forces. “We stand with our army in all kinds of external aggression,” Sohail Afridi said.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Sohail Afridi on assuming office as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sohail Afridi has been one of my long-standing and loyal companions from the Insaf Students Federation (ISF). Guided by the spirit and vision of PTI, I trust he…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 18, 2025
Meanwhile, a post shared from Imran Khan’s X account (formerly Twitter), last night, the argument of diplomacy was repeated once again. He wrote, “The issue with Afghanistan, in particular, demands a political, not military, solution. It is therefore the duty of political leadership to ensure lasting peace through dialogue and wisdom.”
Afridi also said that he was brought to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution, adding that his appointment was not meant to target any individual or group. He said that his primary focus remains on governance rather than political power.
Responding to questions regarding the formation of the provincial cabinet, the Chief Minister noted that consultations with the party leadership are still underway. “We are awaiting the party’s guidance for finalising the new cabinet,” he said, adding that he wishes to confer with Imran Khan before making the final decision.
PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN CEASEFIRE IN EFFECT
Pakistan and Afghanistan reached an agreement for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday morning. The agreement was reached after high-level talks mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, and was announced through a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also confirmed the development, calling it a “great success” for the country.