The Pashtun Qaumi Jirga has announced peaceful protests across all districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on 20 October, aiming to reclaim peace in Pashtun lands from the oppressive policies of Paki establishment. Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), has urged Pashtuns to unite and confront the Punjabi Pak Army’s destabilizing tactics, which is fuelling unrest for profit and political gain.
“The real cause of war in Pashtun areas lies with the policies of GHQ (General Headquarters),” said Pashteen. “Generals bring war to our lands in exchange for dollars, turning Pashtun soil into battlegrounds to serve their interests.” He said that without unity, peace would remain a distant dream, as the Army continues its terror campaigns to maintain control.
The movement, rallying under the banner of the Pashtun Qaumi Jirga, declared that the time had come to resist both military interventions and Punjabi Pak Army backed-armed factions that have ravaged Pashtun regions for decades.
PTM to Mobilize Pashtun
The protests on October 20, branded as “Pashtun Peace Day”, will call for an end to forced occupations, exploitation of natural resources, and Pak Army’s chokehold in the region. Participants will also demand the safe return of refugees to their homes, justice for those killed by the military’s operations, and the release of political prisoners and missing persons. Local concerns such as electricity prices and border issues along the Durand Line are also on the agenda.
The protest’s epicenter will be in Wana Bazaar, Lower South Waziristan, with similar rallies scheduled across the entire Pashtun belt. The Pashtun Qaumi Jirga has vowed to enforce its resolutions to bring sustainable peace and ensure that resources are no longer exploited by outsiders.
Pashteen’s message reflects a growing frustration among Pashtuns with the Pakistan Army’s draconian policies. The military’s involvement in enforced disappearances, illegal detentions and violent crackdowns has drawn fierce criticism as communities remain trapped under its oppressive rule. The so-called “war on terror” has been used as a cover to suppress dissent and maintain the Army’s dominance, all while diverting international aid and resources into their coffers.