In a powerful and fiery speech, Manzoor Pashteen, the founder and leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), delivered a sharp critique of Pakistan’s military, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the Pashtun population and the state. His address, which has gone viral on social media, included bold historical references and direct challenges to top military officials.
Pashteen invoked the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, comparing the Pashtun struggle to the Bengalis’ fight for independence. He warned, “Bengalis took the Pakistan Army’s pants off; we will rip their skin off,” drawing a parallel between the military’s failure to suppress the Bengali independence movement and what he perceives as its current inability to control the Pashtuns. His blunt language captured the frustration of the Pashtun people, who he said are no longer willing to tolerate oppression.
Bengalis took Pak Military’s pants off, and we Pashtoons would rip their jaws off. A hard-hitting speech by @ManzoorPashteen who threatens to march towards Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/lWe2YuINrZ
— Raja Muneeb (@RajaMuneeb) October 12, 2024
Targeting senior military leaders, including the Chief of Army Staff, Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Corps Commanders in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pashteen warned that the Pashtuns’ patience is running thin. “Pashtoons don’t want to stay with you. This cannot continue,” he declared, hinting at a potential escalation of resistance if their grievances are not addressed. He also alluded to the possibility of a mass movement towards the capital, Islamabad, should the military continue its oppressive policies.
In his speech, Pashteen also condemned Pakistan’s use of religion for political gain, accusing the state of hypocrisy. He declared that the Pashtuns were ready to sacrifice their lives for their cause, and criticized the military for targeting those who stand up for Pashtun rights.
This speech follows the recent ban on the PTM, with the Pakistani government branding the movement a national security threat under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. The ban, which places Pashteen and other PTM leaders on a watchlist, has been widely criticized as an authoritarian attempt to silence dissent. Despite the ban, Pashteen reaffirmed that the PTM remains committed to peaceful advocacy for Pashtun rights, calling for an end to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the restoration of civil liberties in Pashtun regions.