The Pashtuns of Pakistan have acted as the iron wall against all sorts of invasions and intrusions from across the Pak-Afghan border. Nevertheless, there have been deliberate and well-planned conspiracies going-on for decades to create a wedge among this great Pakistani community. In recent years, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has acted as a platform to create distrust among Pashtun youth. Although PTM could not attract desired number of youth to support its cause, yet it acted as spoiler and has mislead unemployed youth for its undesired activities. Through various statements and activities, PTM created abhorrence between various communities of Pakistan and especially against the state and its institutions. As noticed since last few years, the total focus of PTM is to promote ethnic division in Pakistan through narrow-minded sub-nationalistic narratives, rather nationalistic and all-encompassing narratives. Allowing such narratives, groups and movements will encourage emergence of similar groups and movements in other provinces of Pakistan.
Indeed, the acts and activities of PTM are against the very culture and traditions of Pashtuns (Pathans). PTM is pushing the Pashtun to become an isolated and restricted community whereas traditionally, Pashtuns have strategic and wider thinking which is not restricted to Pashtun areas. They are everywhere in Pakistan and most trusted community of Pakistan in entire Pakistan. The Pashtuns of Pakistan are legendary brave with patriotism run in their vessels like blood. They are honest, hospitable and highly resolute; physically, morally and mentally.Edward E. Oliver while describing these marvellous people in his famous book, “Across the Borderor Pathan and Baloch” says; “The Pathan is undoubtedly brave to rashness, sets no value upon life, either his own or anyone else’s. Trained from youth to feats of strength, endowed with wonderful power of endurance, he commands the most Englishmen”. Hon Mount Stuart Elphinstone, wrote, “The Pathans are fond of liberty, faithful to their friends, kind to their dependents, hospitable, brave, hardy, frugal, laborious and prudent”. Hon Mountstuart Elphinst one FRSE was a Scottish statesman and historian, associated with the Government of British India.
In their history, Pashtuns endured all sorts of wars, conflicts and conspiracies boldly, collectively and with integrity and high esteem. They refused to surrender in front of Tsarist Russia, the British Military Might, the Russian invasion and American imperialism. Apart from battling against the contesting powers of the historical Great Game of 19thcentury, the Pashtuns of Pakistan resisted the Soviet invasion into Pakistan from 1979 to 1989. Not only that, but, they get the credit of hosting millions of Afghan refugees, following the Soviet invasion in neighbouring Afghanistan.
In 21st century, these daring sons of soil, acted as iron wall against the infiltration of US and NATO forces from Afghan soil into Pakistani territory. They also acted as barricade against the infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan after the military operations; “Rah-i-Nijat”, “Rah i Rasat” and “Zarb-i-Azb”. While resisting the US engineered global war on terror, where there has been sufferance of entire Pakistan, Pashtuns suffered the most, mainly due to bordering with Afghanistan. The unique peculiarity of Pakistani Pashtuns is that, despite their sufferance during Soviet and US invasions of Afghanistan and during the prolonged war against terrorism, they played unprecedented and unparalleled role of love and patriotism for their motherland, Pakistan.
Whereas the entire Pakistani nation gets the credit of winning of war against terrorism, nevertheless, the chivalry Pashtuns and courageous armed forces of Pakistan have played an unprecedented role. Indeed, they have been paramountstrengthand helped armed forces of Pakistan in all respect in all the military operations against terrorists. It is a time to reap the fruit of this great victory, which was never insight a decade ago. Therefore, let’s not get into a trap of the foes, who know that, Pashtuns cannot be defeated by force. The great and brave Pashtuns should not be misled by ManzoorPashteen and his Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). There was no requirement of such movements at a time, once Pashtuns of former FATA region are in the process of reconstruction and development. Such movements and acts will undermine the unprecedented sacrifices of the Pashtuns.
Unfortunately, leadership of PTM has established ethnic based strong contacts with expatriate Afghan national, living in various countries in Europe and US. Some of these Afghan nationals conspire and demonstrate against Pakistan on behalf of PTM. Among these Afghan expatriate there are many who have maintain contacts with India and even acting as Indian proxies in their propagandas against Pakistan. Reportedly, Abdur Rehman Hanif, a former Afghan Army man has been appointed as the state coordinator of PTM in America. In July 2024, 8-10 Afghan origin youth tried to assault Pakistani Consulate in Frankfurt. They scaled the walls of the mission and removed the Pakistani flag and attempted to burn it. Similar anti-Pakistan activities are being organized in many countries in Europe and America by Afghan nationals showing their linkages with PTM.
As a nation let’s reject all ethnic and sub-nationalist movements by promoting unity in diversity. The youth of Pakistan must be guided to play a constructive and progressive role, rather making them tools of hatred and cynicism. Let’s be a proud nation and defeat all sorts of regional and international conspiracies against Pakistan. The state of Pakistan and the incumbent Government must devise strategies to engage the youth that are being used by organizations like PTM by providing them jobs and quality education.
The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
