Disturbing reports have emerged of assassination threats against Mohsin Dawar, a prominent Pashtun leader and vocal critic of the Punjabi Pak Army and its Paki establishment. This alarming development underscores the oppressive tactics employed by Pakistan’s military elite to silence dissent, particularly among the Pashtun community, which has long borne the brunt of Army-sponsored violence and manipulation.
Mohsin Dawar, a key figure in the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), has consistently challenged the Army’s duplicity, particularly its role in nurturing militancy to further its strategic goals in the region. He has accused the Paki establishment of adopting a hypocritical policy toward the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban—supporting them as proxies to destabilize Afghanistan while simultaneously targeting Pashtun voices that expose this dangerous agenda.
The Pakistan Army’s double standards are no secret. It has long used militant groups as tools of influence, creating chaos in neighboring Afghanistan while fostering insecurity in Pashtun regions. Dawar’s outspoken criticism of these policies, coupled with his calls for accountability, has made him a prime target for the military’s wrath. The threat to his life is yet another indication of the Army’s reliance on coercion and intimidation to stifle dissent and suppress the awakening of the Pashtun nation.
Informed and courageous Pashtuns who challenge the Army’s narrative are systematically targeted, either through direct violence or by enabling proxies to act on behalf of the military. The generals, whose power rests on perpetuating instability, view individuals like Dawar as a threat to their carefully constructed façade. Pashtun leaders who seek truth and justice are labeled as enemies, while the real culprits—the military and its militancy project—continue to evade accountability.