The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) peace jirga has called on the federal government to consult the provincial government in formulating Pakistan’s foreign policy on Afghanistan and to ease tensions between the two tiers of government.

In a 15-point joint declaration adopted on Wednesday, the jirga demanded that the provincial assembly be taken into confidence before any military operation in the province.

It urged that complete administrative control and internal security responsibilities be handed over to the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), with other institutions assisting when required.

The declaration further recommended that ongoing operations and their legal justifications be explained to the KP Assembly in an in-camera session.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the province’s hard-earned peace was the result of sacrifices made by the people, security forces, and the army.

“Once again, we must unite to preserve the peace we have regained,” he said.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, addressing the jirga, emphasised the need for collective action.

“If we want lasting peace in the province, the federal and provincial governments, along with security forces, must sit together and formulate a joint strategy,” he said.

The declaration also urged the immediate reopening of all traditional trade routes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border for all types of commercial activity.

It called on Islamabad to prioritise diplomacy in shaping its Afghan policy, with due input from Peshawar.

The jirga demanded that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting be convened in line with constitutional requirements and that illegal mineral extraction in KP be halted immediately.

It also called for a provincial action plan on internal security and a crackdown on illegal levies and extortion.

Participants, including representatives of political parties, civil society, the KP Bar Association, and the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, unanimously condemned terrorism in the province and merged tribal districts, vowing to use all available means to eradicate it.

The declaration further proposed the creation of a Provincial Peace Forum comprising non-government members and citizen liaison cells involving police, cantonment, and local body representatives.

It also recommended linking the Provincial Finance Commission with the National Finance Commission (NFC) and implementing Article 151 of the Constitution to ensure the smooth transport of wheat across provinces.

The jirga reiterated that provincial autonomy must be respected and that cooperation between Islamabad and Peshawar is essential to sustaining peace and development in the region.