Pashtun Tahafuz Movement: Dissent in the mountains

The Pashtun community in Pakistan, the second-largest ethnic group, has long felt marginalized in the country. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) was formed to advocate for their rights and protection, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and tribal areas. The Pakistani government recently banned the PTM under anti-terror laws, sparking criticism from Amnesty International. The PTM emerged in 2014 to remove landmines and gained prominence in 2018 during protests against extrajudicial killings. The group is active in a region near the Afghanistan border that has been a hotbed of militant activities. The PTM’s leaders, including Manzoor Pashteen, have faced legal troubles but continue to advocate for the Pashtun community’s rights.