Author: Sudhir Ahmad Afridi

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Political activity in District Khyber has gained fresh momentum with the official reactivation of the Khyber Political Alliance and the formation of a new cabinet for the next six months. Alliance leaders reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts, mutual cooperation, and presenting a united voice on regional issues. They also announced plans to convene a large public jirga. The key meeting took place at the District Press Club in Landi Kotal, with active participation from leaders and representatives of various political parties. Discussions focused on serious regional challenges, problems facing local citizens, and the reorganization…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi PESHAWAR: Amir Haider Khan Hoti, senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has warned that war and negotiations cannot proceed simultaneously, urging political actors to review their approaches. Speaking at a rally in Mardan, Hoti highlighted growing unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and criticized Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) leader Sohail Afridi for statements about expanding influence in Punjab and Sindh. “The focus should first be on extinguishing the fire of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said, questioning why the PTI consistently entrusts the province’s protests to the Pashtun community. He…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi PESHAWAR: A three-day professional photography course aimed at equipping youth from the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with modern, market-oriented skills was held in Peshawar from 30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026. The course took place at the main hall of the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Hayatabad, with full institutional support from the department. Young participants from the former tribal areas actively took part in the interactive training sessions. The program was designed to provide practical and technical training aligned with the requirements of contemporary local and international markets,…

By Ghulam Hussain Baloch QALAT: A large-scale anti-drugs and anti-smuggling operation in Balochistan’s Qalat district resulted in the seizure of narcotics and foreign goods worth billions of rupees, officials said. Officials said the operation targeted three major warehouses in the Khaliqabad area, where authorities recovered a significant quantity of drugs alongside smuggled goods, including tyres, textiles, and thousands of meters of imported cloth. A spokesperson for the district administration described the haul as “unprecedented in scale” for the region, noting that the total value of the items recovered was estimated in the billions of rupees. Deputy Commissioner Durrani told reporters…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Leaders of the Khyber Political Alliance urged residents of the tribal district to turn out in large numbers for a public rally scheduled to be held at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal Bazaar, warning that prolonged border closures, worsening economic conditions and rising unemployment had pushed local communities into deep distress. The call was made following a meeting of the alliance, during which party leaders expressed concern over what they described as the growing marginalization of tribal areas and the lack of effective measures to address long-standing public grievances. Speaking to reporters after the…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi TORKHAM: The closure of Pakistan‑Afghanistan border crossings, including Torkham, Chaman, Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi, was triggered by clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces on 11 October last year. Following the incidents, authorities had to shut trade and transit points. Pakistan repeatedly accused the Afghan regime of allowing its territory to be used against Pakistan, insisting that borders would remain closed until Afghanistan provided international guarantees to stop cross‑border terrorist incursions. The international community also alleged that Afghanistan continued to harbour militants posing a threat to the region and neighbouring states. In response, Afghanistan’s current Emir, Hibatullah…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Sharifullah Afridi, president of the Teachers’ Association of Khyber District, criticised what he called “unjust and harsh” tax deductions from teachers’ salaries, despite existing tax exemptions. In a statement, he described the move by the provincial government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as akin to “stepmotherly treatment” and a clear violation of official promises. Afridi said that while the government claims to provide relief to teachers, the FBR’s removal of tax exemptions and subsequent deductions had caused severe financial strain. “Inflation has already burdened teachers, and now these unexplained deductions, made without prior…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: The annual elections of the District Press Club Khyber have been completed in Landi Kotal, with Aman Ali Shinwari elected president and Hijrat Ali Afridi chosen as general secretary. The elections were held under the supervision of senior members of the legal community, including Khyber Bar Association president Advocate Abrar Afridi, along with Advocate Taj Mahal and Advocate Ahmedullah Khattak, in line with directives from the information department. The process was described as transparent and peaceful. As no nomination papers were submitted by other members for most offices by 26 December, Shinwari and several cabinet…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: A key consultative meeting of the Khyber Political Alliance was held at the Landi Kotal District Press Club, bringing together workers from various political parties alongside elders from the provincial and former tribal districts. The meeting was attended by a wide range of political and community figures, including Shah Hussain Shinwari, Murad Hussain Afridi, Mufti Ijaz Shinwari, Haji Zarbullah, Maulana Shoaib, Sajid Afridi, Hameesh Shinwari and Fazlur Rehman Afridi, among others. Participants held detailed discussions on the problems facing Landi Kotal, focusing in particular on the acute lack of facilities in hospitals, negligence in medical…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Additional Assistant Commissioner Shahabuddin, accompanied by officers from Lundi Kotal police, conducted visits to Gagra and nearby areas to engage with Afghan nationals residing in the tehsil without proper legal status. During these visits, local jirgas—traditional tribal assemblies—were convened to communicate with the Afghan residents, urging them to return to Afghanistan voluntarily and with dignity. Authorities emphasized that the initiative was intended to facilitate an orderly and respectful repatriation process rather than impose punitive measures. The district administration reported that a series of jirgas had been initiated across the Lundi Kotal sub-division as part of…