PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Aimal Wali Khan has claimed that preparations are being made for a new war between China and America in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

“We are once again warning the entire nation and state that players have changed. Another private war is being planned to kill our children,” he said in a statement here on Thursday.

He said that in the past when America and Russia were fighting, ANP had warned that it was not jihad. “At that time our words were not taken seriously, rather we were accused of being Russian agents. Today, not only our nation but the entire world is supporting our words,” he said while expressing concern over the prevailing situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The ANP chief said that those religious leaders, who were sending children of other people to Afghanistan for jihad until yesterday, were now considering it corruption. Pointing to the recent events in Balochistan, he said that violence was not solution to any problem rather it further complicated the situation.

Aimal Wali says preparations afoot for new war between China and US

The real power of the people, he said, was in politics. He said that mutual trust and negotiations were indispensable for a permanent solution to internal problems. “The solution to separatist movements is only political seriousness, which needs to be shown. Whoever is martyred, we feel sad, we can feel the pain of the people facing difficulties,” he added.

Aimal Wali Khan said that peace must be prioritised in all circumstances, which was the only way to move forward. The problems must be solved immediately, otherwise situation might worsen, he said.

He said that transparency should be brought in policies and people should be taken into confidence by discussing relevant issues in parliament. A clear and effective strategy was needed regarding terrorists and separatist movements, he added.

The ANP chief said that there should be no place for terrorism in the country and there should be no ambiguity about it. “The state has to sit with the people and remove their concerns. You have to recognise their rights,” he said.

He said that ANP could not support violence in any way. “We will continue to raise our voice for peace,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2025