Protests in Pakistan’s Bannu Demand End to Military Operations

Last week, thousands of protesters in Bannu, Pakistan, rallied against military operations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The peaceful demonstration turned violent after a gunfire incident led to casualties. Activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) organized the rally to denounce state atrocities, landmine removal, missing persons, and accountability for military operations in the region.

Rights groups, like Amnesty International, criticized the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters and called for an investigation to hold officials accountable. The PTM, a Pashtun rights movement, opposes extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions of Pashtuns in the name of fighting militants.

Pakistan’s recent military operation, “Azm-e-Istehkam,” aims to combat militancy and violence but risks alienating locals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pashtuns fear displacement and deaths due to historical experiences with military operations in the region.

The lack of mainstream media coverage and government inaction has left Pashtun activists feeling isolated. Despite political opposition, like Imran Khan’s directives against new military operations, the PTI party faces crackdowns and struggles to address Pashtun demands.

The ongoing conflict with militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan underscores the need for a peaceful resolution and dialogue to prevent further violence and casualties in the region.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn

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