Welcome overtures – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
ONE should, perhaps, not read too much into it, but it has nonetheless been uplifting to note that there still appears to be some room for reason and rationality in national politics.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday on the latter’s invitation. The two appear to have had a largely cordial engagement. They talked about the need for close cooperation between the centre and KP, reportedly agreeing that such coordination was “vital for peace, development and public welfare in the province”. The CM shared with Mr Sharif concerns about his province’s finances, as well as counterterrorism and the ongoing law and order crisis. It may be recalled that Mr Afridi was picked for the KP chief minister’s office because he is a ‘fighter’. It now appears that he may also be a man who can be reasoned with.
Reciprocating goodwill, the PM is said to have assured Mr Afridi that the centre would cooperate and support KP’s development projects, infrastructure improvement, education, health and employment generation. And, in a break from the more confrontational stance taken by other stakeholders, Mr Sharif also acknowledged that the KP government has an important role to play in establishing peace in the province, but urged the provincial administration to improve the law-and-order situation and strengthen counterterrorism efforts.
“National unity, stability and prosperity can be achieved effectively through mutual consultation and collaboration,” the PM was quoted as saying. Though no one expected the two to come to blows during their tête-à-tête, the general lack of hostility seen during the meeting was just as surprising. After all, the PTI and PML-N have been pursuing a relentless vendetta against each other, which has routinely devolved into ugly behaviour by both sides.
Parties routinely politick against each other; indeed, they should — this is what gives a democracy its lifeblood. However, it is also important to set politics aside, especially when the challenges are so immense that collaboration instead of confrontation is required. KP continues to face extreme violence, and its long-standing fight against terrorism may be at risk of experiencing reversals. The province is cash-strapped and needs sustained support from the centre to address its many administrative and governance problems.
Mr Afridi had previously turned down meetings with the PM, possibly owing to pressures from within his party to appear more aggressive and adversarial towards the federation amidst the crackdown on its leaders. However, it seems that the young leader is now realising that he represents not just the PTI, but also the people of KP, including those who may not have voted for him. It is a sign of maturity and must be encouraged.
Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026
