Imran Khan’s X posts ignite controversy over Pakistan-Afghanistan security

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s recent posts on X (formerly Twitter) have sparked fresh controversy over Pakistan’s national security policy and the fragile state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

The remarks come at a critical moment, as the Pakistani military continues its fight against terrorism, with soldiers sacrificing their lives for the nation’s stability.

Kamran Khan, in his latest episode of On My Radar, highlighted that these posts are not just political commentary but pose a direct challenge to the country’s security apparatus.

He questioned whether Khan is personally managing his X account from Adiala Jail or if others - either inside Pakistan or abroad - are orchestrating these statements, which could undermine ongoing counterterrorism operations.

In his tweets, Khan accused Pakistan’s military leadership of deliberately sabotaging peace with Afghanistan to appease anti-Taliban lobbies. On September 9, he claimed that the peace established during the PTI government was being dismantled and instructed KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to engage with Afghan authorities on security and peace, while resisting military actions, drone strikes, and forced evictions in KP.

Between September 10 and 13, security forces conducted operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa targeting the “Fitna al-Hindustan”. These operations resulted in the deaths of 35 terrorists, while 12 army personnel were martyred.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the funeral prayers of the fallen soldiers on September 14 alongside Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, stressing that the Afghan government must decide between the “Khawarij” and Pakistan.

On September 15, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad urged Pakistan to halt military confrontations with the banned TTP and pursue diplomacy. The next day, Khan tweeted again, calling on allies led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai to take a peace delegation to Afghanistan and oppose evictions and operations in tribal areas.

This controversy unfolds amid a surge in terrorism. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan ranks second globally in terrorism impact, with a 45% increase in attacks over the past year, resulting in 1,081 deaths, most claimed by the TTP. ISPR reports 59,775 intelligence-based operations so far, with 358 army casualties and over 1,200 terrorists killed. From January to June 2025, Pakistan faced 502 terrorist attacks, killing 273 civilians and 284 security personnel, while 688 terrorists were neutralized.

Against this backdrop, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has launched a formal inquiry into Khan’s social media activities. He was interrogated in Adiala Jail, raising pressing questions: can a former prime minister dictate KP’s foreign policy or negotiations? Can private delegations represent Pakistan diplomatically? Should the government resume talks with the banned TTP after failed negotiations three years ago? And would such engagement embolden extremist groups against the state?