Mahmood Achakzai, Sohail Afridi emerge as key reasons behind failure of talks

The government’s committee was fully empowered and continued to show flexibility, while opposition committee members Mahmood Achakzai and Sohail Afridi came under pressure over what sources described as inappropriate demands. Sources said major differences between the opposition leadership and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government were also a key reason for the failure of the negotiations.

Opposition members were prepared to follow the federal government and state policies on counterterrorism, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government refused to cooperate., the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also refused assistance from the federal government in terrorism-hit districts. The development reportedly surprised the negotiating committee, which questioned why the provincial government was unwilling to work with the federation to eliminate terrorism.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government repeatedly announced the long march even before consensus was reached on an agreement. Sources said the government and institutions were prepared to show flexibility on other matters, but the stance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government led to the failure of the negotiations.

Sources said Mahmood Achakzai also played a key role in the failure of the talks and remained dominant within the negotiating committee. He continued to link every matter with a meeting with the PTI founder and his release.

At one point, the government had agreed to allow Barrister Gohar to meet the PTI founder, sources said., the decision not to postpone the long march and failure to reach an agreement on counterterrorism ultimately became the reasons for the deadlock.