Pakistan Activists’ Arrests Raise Tensions with Afghanistan, Reports Reuters

Published by Saad Sayeed

ISLAMABAD – The recent arrest of a group of ethnic Pashtun activists during a rally in Pakistan has reignited tensions with neighboring Afghanistan, prompting a sharp response from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who criticized Islamabad’s treatment of the protesters.

The activists, associated with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), were apprehended during a protest in Islamabad on Tuesday, advocating against police violence. This rally is part of a broader series of actions against the PTM, which was established a year ago following the death of a Pashtun individual at the hands of police in Karachi.

Islamabad’s crackdown on the PTM, which has significant support in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, has sparked backlash and protests in Afghanistan, where Pashtuns represent the largest ethnic group.

The events of Tuesday have reopened longstanding disputes between Kabul and Islamabad, coinciding with Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate a peace process aimed at resolving over 17 years of conflict in Afghanistan.

Ghani expressed his concerns about the violence faced by peaceful protesters and civil rights activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, stating his discontent via social media.

In response, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi dismissed Ghani’s remarks, deeming them irresponsible and an undue interference in Pakistan’s affairs. He urged Ghani to address the grievances of the Afghan populace instead.

The protests were triggered by the death of PTM leader Arman Loni in Balochistan, which the group attributes to police actions. Mohsin Dawar, a parliament member and PTM founding member, alleges that police targeted Loni and caused his death. Meanwhile, a police spokesperson contends that Loni suffered a heart attack following clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators.

Currently, 18 activists remain in custody, with only one individual being released since the arrests. PTM leader and parliament member Ali Wazir confirmed these details.

Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested during the protests, labeling the Pakistani authorities’ actions as shocking.

The PTM asserts that the military and other state agencies are responsible for numerous enforced disappearances, leading to countless unresolved cases predominantly affecting the Pashtun population near the Afghan border.

The military views the PTM with suspicion, claiming it poses a threat to Pakistan’s stability. Authorities assert that they do not detain individuals without sufficient evidence.

Last month, the arrest of prominent PTM leader Alamzeb Mehsud in Karachi caused a significant outcry on social media. He faces charges under anti-terrorism and public order statutes, though his supporters argue that his arrest stemmed from his activism against military abuses.

Following extensive protests across the nation last year, authorities carried out a large-scale crackdown, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of PTM members.

Founding PTM members Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were elected to parliament in July from the Pashtun-majority Waziristan region, underscoring the group’s growing influence among the approximately 35 million Pashtuns in Pakistan.