PASHTUNS' PLIGHT: HOW PAK FOREIGN POLICY FUELS INJUSTICE AND CHAOS

Manzoor Pashteen's struggle underscores Pashtun resilience, challenging Pakistan's military oppression and global indifference to human rights.

- LEVSA BAYANKHAIL

Manzoor Pashteen, Me the brave face of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), has become a symbol of resistance against oppression. Yet, his path has been anything but safe. The recent surge in threats against him is a chilling reminder of the dangerous reality faced by those who dare to speak truth to power in Pakistan. Close allies of Pashteen have reported on social media that there's a potential suicide bombing attempt on his life, particularly after the Pashtun National Jirga. These warnings have understandably led to a reduction in his public appearances, adding a new layer of tension to the already fraught political environment in the Pashtun region.

Manzoor Pashteen's fight for the rights of the Pashtun people has always come with significant risks. Before the recent alerts about a possible suicide attack, Pashteen had already survived four assassination attempts. These included two attacks at his residence, a targeted ambush at Bilal Market, and an elaborate six-day plan at the Karkhanu, Khyber pakhtunkhwa to eliminate him. Each attempt reveals the lengths to which Pakistani establishment is willing to go to silence him. These threats are not random but calculated efforts to undermine a movement that has consistently highlighted the injustices faced by the Pashtun community.

The situation is further complicated by the role of Pakistan's military, which is accused of perpetuating instability in the region.

General Asim Munir, a senior figure in the Pakistani military, recently visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to meet with so-called nationalist leaders and the region's leading political party. The timing and purpose of the visit raise several questions. Reports suggest that the general's agenda included pressuring members of the Pashtun National Jirga to withdraw their support for the movement.