'80,000 lives sacrificed in KP alone': CM Afridi calls for 'policy change'

Chairing a meeting at the CM House in Peshawar on Monday, provincial Chief Executive Sohail Afridi called for a change in strategy to combat terrorism in the province while expressing concerns over the "closed-door policy and failed strategy."

He remarked, as quoted by the media, that over the last two decades, more than 80,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had laid down their lives. He stressed the need for greater cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, demanding definitive measures from the federal authorities.

"If the policy we propose is implemented, peace can be restored within 100 days," media outlets quoted him as saying. He added that the "closed-door policy" continued to squander all their efforts, including billions in spending and the sacrifices of the people, police and armed forces.

The northwestern province has seen a rise in terror incidents targeting security personnel. More than 40 people have been martyred in two separate bombings reported in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan in September.

The tensions between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Centre remain high as officials and ministers from both sides lock horns over the imposition of governor's rule and the upcoming protest march to Islamabad.