Awami National Party (ANP) chief Aimal Wali Khan has questioned the state and government on security guarantees following the resumption of Jaffar Express operations.

Speaking on Aaj News’ programme “Rubaroo”, he asked, “Can you guarantee that such an attack will not happen again?”

He criticised decades of state policies on terrorism, saying, “We have played this game for 50-60 years, and now it is out of our control.”

He warned that Pakistan’s existence is at risk, especially in Balochistan, and called for an immediate end to extremist policies.

Aimal Wali challenged the claim that terrorists have been defeated.

“Did you break their backbone? No, it’s the state’s backbone that is broken. You fight a few thousand militants while terrorism and its facilitators still exist,” he remarked.

He described Pakistan as a country plagued by extremism at every level — from the state to the government to protest movements.

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On national security, he dismissed party participation in high-level meetings as irrelevant unless the state acts on given recommendations. He warned that Pakistan is being drawn into a new Cold War, involving not just India, Afghanistan and Iran, but also the Taliban and the United States, with strategic interest in warm waters.

Forward bloc rumors in PTI

Addressing claims by Sher Afzal Marwat about a forward bloc forming within PTI, Aimal Wali dismissed them outright.

“Marwat is not a serious person. He is more of a stage humorist than a politician,” he remarked.

However, he suggested that only if Imran Khan himself initiated a bloc against pro-establishment members could such a move succeed.

On Ali Amin Gandapur’s future as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister, Aimal Wali predicted, “Ali Amin and Shehbaz Sharif will be replaced at the same time. When Shehbaz and Maryam go, so will Gandapur. All three are controlled by the same string.”

PTI’s political manoeuvring

PTI’s Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja acknowledged internal party divisions, stating that some members never actively participate in protests or rallies and even fled Pakistan when military court cases emerged. He assured that Imran Khan is fully aware of who is loyal and who is not.

Regarding a potential alliance with JUI-F, Raja hinted that some events may see JUI-F’s participation before an official alliance is formed.

On Senator Kamran Murtaza’s demand for a written agreement, he said it was possible but contingent on consultation with Imran Khan, which he claimed was being obstructed.

Dismissing speculation about Gandapur’s removal, Raja reaffirmed PTI’s stance, stating, “Ali Amin Gandapur is our chief minister, and his position is secure. Some people, inside and outside the party, are trying to create instability, but this is just wishful thinking.”

On whether a forward bloc in PTI is a real threat, he remarked, “Only a fool would take a step that ends their political career.”