RAW’s plot against Pakistan’s unity
THE so-called Pashtun National Jirga (PNJ) is nothing but a foreign-scripted drama aimed at weaponizing ethnic identity against the Pakistani State.
This repackaged extension of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) carries no tribal legitimacy or genuine concern for Pashtun welfare. Instead, it is a political stunt funded and directed by hostile intelligence agencies, with India’s RAW serving as its chief architect. Cloaked in the rhetoric of human rights, the PNJ’s real objective is to fracture Pakistan and destabilize its institutions.
At the heart of this conspiracy lies a poisonous lie — the accusation that Pakistan’s security forces have colluded with militant groups. This narrative is not only absurd but an unforgivable insult to the memory of more than 94,000 Pakistanis, including soldiers and civilians, who sacrificed their lives to eradicate terrorism. The men who liberated Swat, South Waziristan and Bajaur from the TTP’s brutal rule cannot be accused of collaboration. Such claims could only originate from foreign hands that wish to undermine Pakistan’s unity and discredit its armed forces. The PNJ’s attempt to rewrite history by labeling counter-terrorism operations as a “war on Pashtuns” is a gross distortion. In truth, it was the State that fought for the survival and dignity of the Pashtun people — rebuilding schools, markets and homes destroyed by terrorists. While Pakistan restored order and development in the region, the PNJ’s architects spread hate and division from abroad, manipulating emotions for political mileage. The real oppressors of Pashtuns were the TTP and its sponsors, not the Pakistani State that continues to protect and rebuild their homeland.
The most alarming aspect of the PNJ’s agenda is its demand for “international involvement” in Pakistan’s domestic affairs. This call for external interference exposes the true loyalties of its organizers. No genuine patriot seeks foreign mediation in internal matters. The PNJ’s appeal for outside pressure reveals its alignment with hostile powers seeking to weaken Pakistan’s sovereignty and exploit ethnic sentiment as a tool of hybrid warfare. The PNJ and PTM are two faces of the same coin — both serving as instruments in a coordinated campaign to sow division under the guise of ethnic rights. They attempt to create a false choice between Pashtun identity and Pakistani nationalism. Yet, the vast majority of Pashtuns reject this toxic narrative. Their sons proudly serve in the armed forces; their leaders sit in parliament; and their communities benefit from historic State-led reforms such as the FATA merger and CPEC-linked development.
Pakistan’s unity is too deeply rooted to be shaken by such propaganda. Our nation has endured wars, terrorism and global conspiracies — and emerged stronger each time. The PNJ’s script, written in foreign capitals, will soon be discarded like the many failed plots before it. The Pashtuns remain integral to Pakistan’s identity and together with the rest of the nation, they will continue to write the story of a resilient, united Pakistan.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
