Governor Warns of Foreign Threats from Afghan Soil
Media Must Act Responsibly, Says KP Governor
Staff Report
Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Faisal Karim Kundi, has said that investigations are underway into the Tirah Valley incident, and justice will be served to the victims. He blamed the deteriorating law and order situation in the province on the policies of the provincial government.
Speaking at a special session held at the Governor House with journalists and civil society representatives from various districts of KP — organized in collaboration with Individual Land and the European Union — Governor Kundi highlighted regional and media-related challenges.
He stated that Israel and India are operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil, while the provincial government is focusing on holding talks with Afghanistan. “In today’s world, media in Pakistan acts like a double-edged sword, and social media usage in our country surpasses global averages,” he said, stressing the urgent need to promote responsible journalism and combat fake news.
The Governor emphasized that peacebuilding efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa require cooperation from all political forces. “The authority to establish peace lies not with me or Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but with the Chief Minister,” he added. He pointed out that the real cause of unrest is local-level facilitation of militant activities, which are supported by anti-state actors. “An ordinary citizen cannot put explosives in drones,” he remarked.
Governor Kundi also commented on the broader geopolitical situation, stating, “Going to war with India might be easy, but peace within our country is more difficult. We need to understand who is with us and who is working against us.”
On the issue of merged tribal districts, the Governor said the state had committed to spending Rs. 100 billion annually in these areas, but those promises remain unfulfilled. “The population has increased by 5.5 million, and yet we are fighting over resources. Those who once chanted slogans in favor of the merger are now opposing it,” he added. He asserted that eradicating hunger would also end terrorism and demanded KP’s fair share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
Regarding humanitarian efforts, Governor Kundi shared that 30 tons of relief items were distributed in Kurram through the Red Crescent with Russian support. He also emphasized the inclusion and accessibility of persons with disabilities, announcing plans to build special tracks for their mobility within the Governor House.
The Governor criticized the teacher recruitment process in KP, claiming that tests are being conducted at the homes of ministers, and questioned how candidates who pass through cheating can be expected to educate future generations. He said every district in the province may have a university, but the quality of education remains substandard.
Civil society members proposed simplifying the registration process for NGOs, noting that delays lead to the risk of wasting development funds. Governor Kundi assured them that he would raise these concerns with the federal government.
In response to a question, he said that like Sindh, KP and Balochistan should also have a Journalists Protection Bill to safeguard press freedom — a responsibility that falls on the provincial governments.
Concluding the session, Governor Kundi reiterated that no external savior will fix the province’s problems. “Our youth are full of potential. We’ve been in talks with private institutions to provide them with technical and vocational training and secure quota allocations from NAVTTC He emphasized the need for collective action for the development and prosperity of the province.
