PTM’s Ethnic Frame
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has long sought to frame Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts as an ethnic or gender-based campaign, alleging that the Pakistan Army targets Pashtun women and civilians. This narrative is both misleading and dangerous. It distorts facts to provoke ethnic polarization and erode national unity at a time when Pakistan continues to face serious security threats. The truth is that Pakistan’s struggle is against terrorism in all its forms, not against any ethnicity, gender, or faith. The armed forces’ actions are aimed at protecting citizens, restoring peace, and ensuring stability across regions that have suffered most from extremist violence.
Pakistan has fought terrorism for over two decades, bearing immense human and economic losses. The focus of military and intelligence operations has always been on neutralizing terrorist networks such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Al Qaeda (AQ), and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). These groups operate from Afghan territory, exploiting weak governance and porous borders. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan have faced the brunt of this cross-border terrorism, with militants using civilian areas and religious sites as shields. In 2025 alone, Pakistan conducted over 75,000 intelligence-based operations, eliminating more than 2,500 terrorists.
Each mission was planned to minimize civilian casualties, demonstrating a disciplined and lawful approach rather than the indiscriminate violence portrayed by PTM’s propaganda
PTM’s claims ignore a fundamental truth: Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, not its sponsor. The year 2025 alone saw 3,811 terrorist incidents in KP and 1,557 in Balochistan. Twenty-seven suicide attacks were recorded nationwide, many deliberately targeting marketplaces, schools, and mosques. The Pakistan Army’s response to these atrocities is defensive and necessary. Its purpose is to dismantle networks that endanger ordinary citizens, not to suppress them. The narrative that conflates these lawful security operations with ethnic targeting is factually false and morally unjustifiable.
Cross-border terrorism remains the main driver of Pakistan’s security measures. After the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan became a hub for armed groups and a thriving war economy. According to reports, weapons worth USD 7.3 million circulated in Afghanistan, much of it in the hands of militants. These weapons fuel attacks on Pakistani soil. In this context, Pakistan’s defensive actions are not only legitimate but essential. Counterterrorism operations aim to protect national borders and prevent the spread of militant violence into civilian areas. They are not shaped by ethnicity or gender, but by the need to secure Pakistan’s sovereignty and protect innocent lives.
Modern counterterrorism efforts rely on advanced surveillance, drones, and precision targeting to minimize collateral damage. Pakistan’s military uses these tools responsibly and selectively. Terrorist factions, often referred to as Khawarijis, have used quadcopters to attack soldiers and then taken refuge among civilians to avoid retaliation. Despite such tactics, Pakistan’s forces remain bound by strict rules of engagement. Only verified targets, terrorists, and their facilitators are engaged under the National Action Plan, which was endorsed by all political parties.
No operation is designed or executed against women, children, or any ethnic community
PTM’s narrative gains traction abroad largely through foreign platforms that align with anti-Pakistan agendas. Their speeches and social media campaigns echo talking points that parallel Indian and Afghan propaganda efforts. By internationalizing internal matters and reducing complex security challenges to ethnic grievances, PTM inadvertently serves external interests that wish to destabilize Pakistan. This approach ignores the real issue, terrorism, and instead promotes identity-based division. The focus should be on unity and collective resilience, not sowing distrust between the state and citizens.
Pashtuns are not targets of Pakistan’s fight against terrorism; they are central to its success. Thousands of Pashtun soldiers and civilians have sacrificed their lives defending the country from militants. Their courage and loyalty stand in direct contrast to PTM’s portrayal of the state as anti-Pashtun. Such rhetoric dishonors their memory and undermines the shared national struggle against extremism. The reality is that the Pashtun community continues to play a vital role in Pakistan’s defense, governance, and economic development. Strengthening security in Pashtun regions benefits their people the most by restoring normalcy and enabling progress.
Legally, Pakistan’s counterterrorism actions are fully justified under international law. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter recognizes the inherent right of self-defense against armed attacks. Additionally, UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1566 obligate member states to act decisively against terrorism in all forms. Pakistan’s measures, therefore, are not only moral but also consistent with global norms.
The misuse of these lawful actions by PTM and its foreign supporters as evidence of “oppression” is disinformation that disregards both legal and humanitarian realities
At the provincial level, the KP government’s coordination with federal and military institutions underscores a commitment to civilian safety. Intelligence-based operations are designed to be precise, time-sensitive, and minimally disruptive. Parallel to these operations, the state continues to invest in reconstruction, education, and social welfare programs to rebuild communities devastated by terrorism. PTM’s portrayal of these coordinated efforts as punitive is a deliberate distortion that harms the very citizens it claims to represent.
The war against terrorism is not defined by ethnicity, religion, or gender; it is a national mission. Pakistan’s achievements in 2025 alone, including the elimination of 2,597 terrorists, testify to the scale of its determination. Each successful operation brings the country closer to peace and stability. The army’s mission remains clear and consistent: safeguard the nation, uphold sovereignty, and protect every citizen without discrimination. Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign strengthens national unity by defending all communities equally.
PTM’s propaganda misrepresents a lawful, defensive struggle as an ethnic conflict. Such narratives undermine national solidarity and obscure the true enemy: terrorism. Pakistan’s fight is not against the Pashtun people or any ethnic group; it is against those who threaten its peace, stability, and future. By twisting facts and inflaming identity politics, PTM weakens the very cause of civilian protection it claims to champion. Pakistan’s operations in KP, Balochistan, and beyond are acts of defense, not oppression, an ongoing effort to ensure that every citizen, Pashtun or otherwise, can live in safety and dignity under the protection of the state.
