NationalVOLUME 19 ISSUE # 49

PTM’s exploitation of Pakhtun sentiments: A movement losing momentum

Recently, a so-called Pakhtun Jirga organized by the Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) was held in the Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, near Peshawar, where tens of thousands of Pakhtuns participated. The Jirga made several strong demands, which, if accepted, could have significant consequences for the country, particularly for Pakhtun regions. The PTM, a movement advocating for the rights of the Pakhtun ethnic group in Pakistan, spearheaded the gathering.

The initiative to hold a Jirga, where Pakhtuns from all walks of life, ideological leanings, and opinions participated, is commendable. Pakhtuns have endured immense hardship over the last 20 years, as well as historically, due to the denial of their socio-cultural, political, and economic rights by the Pakistani state. In the past two decades, Pakhtun regions have been devastated by terrorism and military operations, resulting in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands, while their economy has collapsed. Despite these challenges, the Pakistani state has largely remained indifferent, and traditional political parties in the region, such as the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), have failed to effectively represent Pakhtun interests. Only the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by the now-imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, provided some relief by curbing terrorism from groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during its successive terms in KP since 2013. This is a key reason for PTI and Imran Khan’s immense popularity in Pakhtun regions. Given this context, it is vital for Pakhtuns to come together and make concrete demands from the Pakistani state.

Manzoor Pashteen, the firebrand leader of the PTM from the Waziristan region, took cognizance of this situation and organized a grand Pakhtun Loya Jirga to debate the pressing issues faced by Pakhtuns and to present demands to the state. However, some of the demands made by the Jirga are highly contentious and difficult to accept. For example, it issued an ultimatum to both the Pakistani military and terrorists, demanding their withdrawal from Pakhtun areas within two months and advocating for free movement across the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is important to note that while Pakhtuns are the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan, they are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, though there are significant differences in the character and behavior of Pakhtuns on either side of the border. Another controversial demand from the PTM Jirga is the creation of an “unarmed” tribal Lashkar consisting of 3,000 volunteers from each district to manage security and resolve disputes.

On the other hand, the Pakhtun Jirga also made some reasonable demands, such as free electricity for tribal districts and discounted power for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, threatening to cut off power to other provinces if these demands are ignored.

While the holding of a grand Jirga is a positive step forward, there are concerns that the PTM, led by Manzoor Pashteen, is leveraging Pakhtun sentiments for its own vested interests. Although the PTM has some following among younger, more impressionable Pakhtun youths, it lacks widespread support within the broader community. The movement appears to be using the Jirga as a platform to expand its base across Pakhtun regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), northern Balochistan, and even Karachi.

The PTM gained prominence in 2017, receiving extensive media coverage, but the group’s rapid rise also raised suspicions despite initial sympathy for its stated goals. The PTM claims that the Pakhtuns face serious threats to their security, rights, and identity in Pakistan, positioning itself as a protector of these rights. Manzoor Pashteen, a firebrand speaker, has become a social media icon among a segment of young Pashtuns.

The PTM’s prominence surged after the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a young Pashtun, by Karachi police in January 2018. Initially, this tragic incident drew widespread support for the PTM, but its popularity waned over time as the movement increasingly presented itself as a Pashtun sub-nationalist group rather than an organization fighting for broader rights. Those familiar with the group’s background, like the author of this piece, predicted this shift in its agenda.

The PTM’s sudden rise to fame was indeed peculiar. While the killing of Naqeebullah in Karachi was the catalyst, the PTM’s primary focus has been on the rights and safety of Pashtuns in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), especially in Waziristan, Pashteen’s hometown. The connection between Naqeeb’s murder by Karachi police and Pashtun rights in FATA was tenuous at best, as Naqeeb’s only link to the region was his origin from Waziristan. Strangely, the PTM used this event to direct much of its criticism towards Pakistan’s military, especially regarding its operations in Waziristan and FATA, despite the fact that Naqeeb was killed by the Karachi police and the military was not involved in his death. This suggests that the PTM sought to exploit the media attention around Naqeeb’s killing to further its own agenda.

The PTM’s leadership, while professing to defend Pashtun rights, seems intent on reviving dormant Pakhtun nationalist sentiments in Pakistan, and this has implications for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PTI, led by Imran Khan, an ethnic Pashtun, has had a government in the Pashtun-majority KP province since 2013 and enjoys considerable support among the region’s youth. The timing of the PTM’s rise in 2017, just months before national elections, is notable. Although the PTM started with a seemingly simple agenda—protecting Pakhtun rights—it has become increasingly apparent that it harbors an anti-state agenda. This exposure has led to a loss of momentum for the movement, and it is likely that the PTM’s influence will continue to decline over time.

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