IN an era where wars are fought as much through narratives as with guns, Pakistan confronts a dangerous convergence of foreign-backed propaganda and domestic political opportunism. At the centre of this vortex stands the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a group that claims to speak for Pashtuns while systematically undermining Pakistan’s security forces and along-side it, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), increasingly willing to leverage this destabilizing force for political mileage.
Pakistan’s counter-terrorism response is neither arbitrary nor vengeful. It is anchored in clear legal frameworks such as the Anti-Terrorism Act and the National Action Plan, empowered by the Constitution and guided by the moral obligation to save innocent lives. Operations are designed around precision intelligence, legal authorization and rules of engagement that pri-oritize civilian protection. Yet PTM routinely recasts these lawful and necessary measures as State “brutality,” flipping reality on its head and turning those who defend Pakistan into vil-lains in their scripted drama. This narrative inversion is especially cruel when measured against the cost Pakistan has paid. More than 94,000 Pakistanis — soldiers, police, civilians and especially Pashtuns — have embraced martyrdom in the fight against terrorism. These sacrifices were not made for parti-san gain; they were offered to preserve Pakistan’s territorial integrity, social peace and basic right to life.
On the ground, security operations in the tribal belt, including Tirah, have consistently incor-porated evacuation plans, safe corridors, medical aid and shelter arrangements for affected populations. Displacement, where it occurs, is a protective measure, not a weapon. Thousands of families have already returned home because terrorist networks were dismantled through these painstaking efforts. Reconstruction of schools, hospitals, mosques and infrastructure continues, visibly affirming that the State’s project is not annihilation but rehabilitation. Independent tribal elders and religious leaders attest that mosques and civilians are respected; PTM simply chooses not to listen.
Instead, PTM echoes the talking points of TTP and foreign hostile agencies. False claims of “mosque bombings,” “mass killings,” and “indiscriminate fire” are pumped into social media without verification as part of psychological warfare meant to weaken the State’s credibility. Foreign actors, including RAW and Afghan proxies, weaponize PTM’s messaging to present Pakistan as fragile and oppressive. The absence of Pakistani flags at PTM rallies, the refusal of its leaders to stand for the national anthem during the KP Jirga and the hostility toward an-yone displaying the national flag expose the movement’s real orientation. This is not a rights campaign; it is a political project calibrated to erode national identity and cohesion. PTI’s flirtation and partnership with PTM adds a dangerous dimension to Pakistan’s security land-scape. By partnering with a movement that delegitimizes counter-terrorism operations and glorifies disorder, PTI provides mainstream cover to extremist narratives. Political rhetoric that normalizes chaos and vilifies security institutions creates exactly the environment terrorists seek. The PTI–PTM axis undermines national unity by promoting conflicting narratives about security and sovereignty, weakening Pakistan’s collective front against terrorism.
Despite these challenges, the State’s record remains clear. Military operations in tribal areas, resettlement programs and development initiatives in the Newly Merged Districts demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to human security over political convenience. Health, education, infrastructure and law-enforcement reforms are tangible realities on the ground—achievements that PTM refuses to acknowledge, as recognition would undermine its grievance-based agenda.
Pakistan’s institutions retain both the legal authority and moral responsibility to ensure pub-lic safety. Guided by a doctrine of “security through law, not fear; sovereignty with humani-ty, not chaos,” the State has waged a long and painful struggle against terrorism. No foreign-scripted movement or opportunistic alliance can negate the lawfulness, restraint and sacrifices that define Pakistan’s guardians of peace.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
