Rabiya_Khan
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PTM -The Devils Pawn and the Peace Exploiter
Since the controversial extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement found legitimacy by advocating that they were an oppressed ethnic group subjected to the barbarity of the Pakistan Army. Their agenda was quick to attract support from Afghanistan. “We want the state to recognize us as equal citizens and grant us everything that goes with it,” says Ali Wazir, a leader of PTM.
The PTM’s definition of equality is the removal of land mines that are crucial to the security of the Afghan-Pakistan border, the release of “missing persons” whose missing status is disputed among their own ranks, and the freedom to move unchecked across the country which would allow militant suits originating from Afghanistan to mix with the local population and infiltrate Pakistan. In addition, the blatant finger pointing at Pakistan army for crucifixion of its people instead of resting blame with the government for not ensuring their rights has thrown shade on the PTM’s motives.
Until 2014, the area of FATA and North Waziristan had been heavily infiltrated and influenced by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The militant suit, which had been mobilized from Afghanistan, put daily life to a halt for the pashtuns in the region, subjecting them to torture and inhumanity if they dared to question their rule. Many pashtuns were displaced if not abducted and killed at the hands of the Taliban. A murderous terrorist attack by TTP on Army Public School in Peshawar that claimed the lives of 150 people including 132 innocent children prompted the army to take a synchronized hardline stance against these terrorist which gave birth to the successful Operation Zarb-eAzab and Operation Radd-Ul-Fassad. As a result, 90% of the TTP dominated land was recaptured and the terrorists were disbanded and forced to retreat.
PTM advocates for exorcising the demons that hold Pashtun hostage but failed to raise concern when the Pashtun were being directly threatened by Taliban and Al Qaeda outfits in FATA. Many Pashtun tribesmen joined militant ranks and contributed to the subsequent wave of terror that froze the country. It was only through Army intervention that peace was restored. Many army officers and soldiers laid their lives during the war on Terror. So when PTM says that the Army is responsible for the senseless murders of Pashtun and denying them their rights, it doesn’t make sense. The martyrs are not counted by Manzoor Pashteen when he talks about people killed by terrorism.
The roadside security check posts have been a constant target of militants in the past putting many Armed personnel in the line of fire. So when PTM leadership complains of inconvenience faced by Pashtuns at these check posts, it disregards the cost of establishing them to the Army. DG ISPR has already clarified the status of these check posts for the future. After establishing 26 FC units and inducting and training Pashtun youth to defend their territory against enemy intervention, the army will withdraw from these areas effectively handing over responsibility of security to the pashtuns of the region.
The issue of landmines in FATA is in itself a thorn in the army’s side. These landmines have left many soldiers terminally wounded, impaired and dead. PTM should consider the blood and tears being put into securing the pashtuns of FATA before levying allegations of purposeful foul play at the Army. The landmines have also acted as a deterrence for terrorist outfits trying to infiltrate Pakistan through the Pak-Afghan border. Removing them would make militant movement easier, putting FATA in a vulnerable position once again.
Pakistan is already central to the war on terror because of its strategic location, the militant threat needed to be eliminated to restore normalcy to daily life and uphold international commitment. Therefore, the Army stepped in when other law enforcement agencies became unapt to deal with the threat of terrorism in the country. It had to resort to strict hardline security policies and protocols and use of brute force to counter the well-equipped Taliban. PTM claims that this policy is racial profiling against the Pashtun people. On ground reality suggests otherwise. The Pashtuns were involved in many terrorist activities, but the execution of those affiliated with terrorist outfits is not racial profiling, rather a necessary step to nip the evil in the bud. The missing person’s conundrum is central to the PTM agenda, but the reality of the situation is yet to be unmasked. PTM alleges that the army has unfairly abducted and captured innocent pashtuns by pronouncing them anti-state agents. These flamboyant allegations of PTM against the army have so far been inept, lacking solid proof.
Another demand put up by PTM was the merger of FATA and KPK so that the people of FATA are included in the political umbrella of the country. It is noteworthy that this reform was already under consideration by the govt of Pakistan but faced strong opposition by Mehmood Khan Achakzai led Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, a strong Pashtun nationalist party working within the political landscape of Pakistan. The PTM leadership clearly failed to see who the real opposition was when they alleged that the government of Pakistan and Army was working to alienate FATA.
In the post-terrorism scenario, Pakistan Army has done much to rehabilitate the people of FATA and return normalcy to their lives. Developmental and social projects have been undertaken by the Army to ensure that displaced persons of the region can comfortably settle back in and resume daily life activities. Schools have been established, polio campaigns have been run and roads have been built. In essence, the army has shown more heart for the people of FATA than the leadership of PTM has. If the army was to blame for eroding the social structure of FATA, we would not have seen it taking to the front line to help the Pashtuns.
The sacrifices of the army should not be maligned for the sake of an anti-state propaganda campaign led by dubious leadership such as that of PTM. By promoting ethnic divide and targeting state and security bodies PTM has done more to harm the integrity of the nation as a whole, Pashtun and non Pashtun alike.
https://biafakhar.blogspot.com/2018/04/ptm-devils-pawn-and-peace-exploiter.html
Since the controversial extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement found legitimacy by advocating that they were an oppressed ethnic group subjected to the barbarity of the Pakistan Army. Their agenda was quick to attract support from Afghanistan. “We want the state to recognize us as equal citizens and grant us everything that goes with it,” says Ali Wazir, a leader of PTM.
The PTM’s definition of equality is the removal of land mines that are crucial to the security of the Afghan-Pakistan border, the release of “missing persons” whose missing status is disputed among their own ranks, and the freedom to move unchecked across the country which would allow militant suits originating from Afghanistan to mix with the local population and infiltrate Pakistan. In addition, the blatant finger pointing at Pakistan army for crucifixion of its people instead of resting blame with the government for not ensuring their rights has thrown shade on the PTM’s motives.
Until 2014, the area of FATA and North Waziristan had been heavily infiltrated and influenced by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The militant suit, which had been mobilized from Afghanistan, put daily life to a halt for the pashtuns in the region, subjecting them to torture and inhumanity if they dared to question their rule. Many pashtuns were displaced if not abducted and killed at the hands of the Taliban. A murderous terrorist attack by TTP on Army Public School in Peshawar that claimed the lives of 150 people including 132 innocent children prompted the army to take a synchronized hardline stance against these terrorist which gave birth to the successful Operation Zarb-eAzab and Operation Radd-Ul-Fassad. As a result, 90% of the TTP dominated land was recaptured and the terrorists were disbanded and forced to retreat.
PTM advocates for exorcising the demons that hold Pashtun hostage but failed to raise concern when the Pashtun were being directly threatened by Taliban and Al Qaeda outfits in FATA. Many Pashtun tribesmen joined militant ranks and contributed to the subsequent wave of terror that froze the country. It was only through Army intervention that peace was restored. Many army officers and soldiers laid their lives during the war on Terror. So when PTM says that the Army is responsible for the senseless murders of Pashtun and denying them their rights, it doesn’t make sense. The martyrs are not counted by Manzoor Pashteen when he talks about people killed by terrorism.
The roadside security check posts have been a constant target of militants in the past putting many Armed personnel in the line of fire. So when PTM leadership complains of inconvenience faced by Pashtuns at these check posts, it disregards the cost of establishing them to the Army. DG ISPR has already clarified the status of these check posts for the future. After establishing 26 FC units and inducting and training Pashtun youth to defend their territory against enemy intervention, the army will withdraw from these areas effectively handing over responsibility of security to the pashtuns of the region.
The issue of landmines in FATA is in itself a thorn in the army’s side. These landmines have left many soldiers terminally wounded, impaired and dead. PTM should consider the blood and tears being put into securing the pashtuns of FATA before levying allegations of purposeful foul play at the Army. The landmines have also acted as a deterrence for terrorist outfits trying to infiltrate Pakistan through the Pak-Afghan border. Removing them would make militant movement easier, putting FATA in a vulnerable position once again.
Pakistan is already central to the war on terror because of its strategic location, the militant threat needed to be eliminated to restore normalcy to daily life and uphold international commitment. Therefore, the Army stepped in when other law enforcement agencies became unapt to deal with the threat of terrorism in the country. It had to resort to strict hardline security policies and protocols and use of brute force to counter the well-equipped Taliban. PTM claims that this policy is racial profiling against the Pashtun people. On ground reality suggests otherwise. The Pashtuns were involved in many terrorist activities, but the execution of those affiliated with terrorist outfits is not racial profiling, rather a necessary step to nip the evil in the bud. The missing person’s conundrum is central to the PTM agenda, but the reality of the situation is yet to be unmasked. PTM alleges that the army has unfairly abducted and captured innocent pashtuns by pronouncing them anti-state agents. These flamboyant allegations of PTM against the army have so far been inept, lacking solid proof.
Another demand put up by PTM was the merger of FATA and KPK so that the people of FATA are included in the political umbrella of the country. It is noteworthy that this reform was already under consideration by the govt of Pakistan but faced strong opposition by Mehmood Khan Achakzai led Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, a strong Pashtun nationalist party working within the political landscape of Pakistan. The PTM leadership clearly failed to see who the real opposition was when they alleged that the government of Pakistan and Army was working to alienate FATA.
In the post-terrorism scenario, Pakistan Army has done much to rehabilitate the people of FATA and return normalcy to their lives. Developmental and social projects have been undertaken by the Army to ensure that displaced persons of the region can comfortably settle back in and resume daily life activities. Schools have been established, polio campaigns have been run and roads have been built. In essence, the army has shown more heart for the people of FATA than the leadership of PTM has. If the army was to blame for eroding the social structure of FATA, we would not have seen it taking to the front line to help the Pashtuns.
The sacrifices of the army should not be maligned for the sake of an anti-state propaganda campaign led by dubious leadership such as that of PTM. By promoting ethnic divide and targeting state and security bodies PTM has done more to harm the integrity of the nation as a whole, Pashtun and non Pashtun alike.
https://biafakhar.blogspot.com/2018/04/ptm-devils-pawn-and-peace-exploiter.html
