CHARSADDA: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Monday declared the recent nationwide wave of terrorism a failure of the National Action Plan and called for an immediate thaw in strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent disastrous consequences.

Mr. Asfandyar told reporters after the party’s central consultative meeting here in Wali Bagh area that his party had called for the ruthless crackdown on terrorists and their facilitators in all parts of the country.

He reiterated his party’s demand for the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, increase in the seats of the KP Assembly, quota for the tribal area in the cabinet and subsequent increase in the province’s share in the NFC Award by five per cent.

ANP chief calls for thaw in Pak-Afghan ties

The ANP chief said his party had long been fighting for the elimination of the line drawn by the British imperialists to divide Pakhtuns living in tribal and settled areas. He said the certain elements calling themselves the ‘champions’ of the rights of Pakhtuns were poised to oppose the merger of Fata with the province for their own vested interests.

Mr. Asfandyar demanded the inclusion of Fata in the CPEC project by connecting Mohmand and Khyber agencies through the Expressway to further connect it to Gwadar seaport.

He said 90 per cent of the mineral resources were located in tribal areas but they had yet to be exploited for the welfare of the poverty-stricken local residents.

On the occasion, ANP provincial president Amir Haider Khan Hoti, general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak, central vice president Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, central information secretary Zahid Khan, and other leaders including Shahi Syed, Afrasiab Khattak, Senator Baz Mohammad Khattak, Bushra Gohar and others were present.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017