The Pashtun Cause: Between Truth and Exploitation
In the arid valleys and rugged mountains of Pakistan’s tribal belt, particularly Waziristan, the Pashtun people have long borne the brunt of historical neglect, armed conflict, and systemic marginalization. From resisting colonial subjugation to withstanding modern counterterrorism operations, they have exhibited resilience and an indomitable spirit. In recent years, a more vocal and politically conscious Pashtun youth has emerged, articulating demands for justice, inclusion, and dignity through peaceful means. This new consciousness is not a rebellion, but a legitimate and constitutional demand for rights long denied.
Yet a dangerous distortion is taking root. Some individuals—under investigation for serious offenses such as extortion, land grabbing, and narcotics trafficking—have begun to misuse the language of ethnic victimhood to shield themselves from accountability. They claim persecution not on the basis of fact, but of identity. This tactic of cloaking criminality in the garb of resistance is not only dishonest but deeply injurious to the very cause it pretends to serve.
The tragedy of the Pashtun experience is undeniable. The United States drone campaign, beginning in 2004, turned North and South Waziristan into some of the most bombarded regions on earth. Civilian casualties—including women and children—were dismissed as collateral damage in the “war on terror.” Military operations conducted by the state of Pakistan have displaced thousands of people and left homes, markets, and lives in ruins. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, drone strikes in the region have resulted in over 4,000 deaths, many of which have been civilians.
It is from this crucible of suffering that a rights movement emerged—peaceful, democratic, and focused on transparency and constitutional redress. The narrative was clear: enforced disappearances must end, extrajudicial actions must be accounted for, and development must reach these historically deprived areas. Civil society organizations, students, and families of missing persons became its backbone.
However, amid this noble struggle, opportunism is muddying the waters. Increasingly, individuals accused of grave offenses invoke the rhetoric of state repression when confronted with legal consequences. What ought to be legal inquiries into criminal actions are instead portrayed as political witch-hunts. This conflation is not merely a misunderstanding—it is an intentional subversion.
Such distortion comes at a high cost. It dilutes the moral clarity of the movement and creates confusion in public perception. When someone facing legitimate charges frames themselves as a political prisoner, the real victims of abuse—those who have suffered without ever breaking the law—are cast into the shadows of doubt. It becomes harder to distinguish genuine dissent from calculated deception.
This phenomenon also plays directly into the hands of critics who have long sought to delegitimize Pashtun political mobilization. They seize upon such instances to question the integrity of the entire movement, painting it as a haven for criminals masquerading as victims. This is not a new tactic. History is replete with examples of noble causes being co-opted for personal benefit. What makes today’s exploitation particularly dangerous is its scale and the subtlety with which it is being carried out—not only from political platforms but from courtrooms and social media feeds, where the distinction between fact and fiction is increasingly blurred.
The consequences for the movement are dire. When fabricated claims of injustice proliferate, real stories struggle to be heard. A young man who lost his father to a forced disappearance may now be met with suspicion rather than sympathy. People begin to question whether his pain is authentic or strategic. This erosion of trust within and around the movement weakens its foundation.
The solution lies in introspection and vigilance. The Pashtun rights movement must ensure that its credibility is not compromised by those seeking to exploit its narrative. Internal accountability is essential. No one—regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, or past victimhood—should be above scrutiny. Activists must be discerning, and careful not to extend their platforms to those with ulterior motives.
Equally, the media has a role to play. While it must report on state injustices, it must also investigate the claims made by those who speak in the name of resistance. Nuance is key. The state, too, has responsibilities. Instead of blanket denials or sweeping crackdowns, it must respond to legitimate grievances through dialogue, reform, and targeted accountability. Suppression only fuels alienation—and alienation breeds instability.
It must be stated unequivocally: ethnic identity cannot be allowed to serve as a shield for criminal activity. Justice cannot be selective, nor can it be bypassed through emotional manipulation. A rights movement that seeks constitutional recognition must uphold the rule of law. Those who weaponize identity to escape prosecution are not defenders of the cause—they are its saboteurs.
Let there be no ambiguity: exploiting the collective pain of a people for personal impunity is not resistance—it is betrayal. Those who do so tarnish the memory of mothers who buried their sons without a grave, of poets who wrote of peace amidst destruction, and of elders who stood firm in the face of violence and fear. They do not speak for the Pashtun cause—they disfigure it.
The path to justice is not a straight line. It demands sacrifice, patience, and above all, honesty. The Pashtun struggle has always drawn its strength from truth. If that truth is corrupted from within, the movement risks losing the very ground upon which it stands.
In a time when public trust is fragile and the space for dissent is shrinking, clarity of purpose is essential. The dignity of the cause must be preserved—not merely for those who lead it today, but for the generations yet to come who will inherit its legacy.
It is this clarity—this refusal to allow truth to be hijacked by falsehood—that will determine whether the Pashtun struggle continues to stand as a beacon of constitutional resistance, or collapses under the weight of self-inflicted contradictions.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Spine Times.
