The Pakistani military is distinguished as the only armed force in the world that embraces “Jihad” as its motto, making it a unique entity that governs a nation rather than being merely a part of a country’s defense system. Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has strategically employed proxy forces to not only destabilize the region but also to exert influence on a global scale. One of its initial uses of proxy forces involved sending Pashtun tribe members to engage Indian forces in Kashmir, sparking the first conflict between India and Pakistan. These Pashtun tribesmen were subsequently utilized as proxies in various operations.
In 1962, following India’s defeat by China, the military regime led by Gen. Ayub Khan orchestrated Operation Gibraltar, dispatching guerrilla fighters in disguise to incite rebellion among the population in Indian Kashmir. This infiltration attempt, although unsuccessful, led to the second full-scale war between India and Pakistan, resulting in Pakistan’s customary defeat.
In 1971, the Pakistani army formed similar proxy forces in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh, to suppress the Bengali separatists. These proxy forces, consisting of Bengalis, Urdu-speaking Biharis, and Jamaat-e-Islami members, committed numerous atrocities. Pakistan’s loss of East Pakistan and subsequent defeat by the nation of Bengal in this conflict fueled a deep sense of humiliation within the military, motivating the continued use of proxies to weaken India and seek retribution.
Throughout the 1980s, amid the onset of the Cold War, Pakistan provided support to Afghan rebels, known as Mujahedin, against the Afghan governments. Pakistan not only assisted the rebels in their fight against the Afghan governments but also utilized them to counter India in Kashmir. This operation proved lucrative as major world powers eagerly purchased the services of Pakistani proxies, offering substantial resources in return.
Following the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan received significant financial support from the U.S. and its allies in exchange for assisting in the war on terrorism. However, Pakistan continued to support the Taliban discreetly while portraying itself as an American ally. Despite receiving billions of dollars in aid, Pakistan maintained ties with extremist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, actively aiding them in their activities.
However, to secure tens of billions of dollars and alleviate U S pressure, Pakistan devised deceptive military operations that resulted in the deaths, disabilities, displacement, and destruction of millions of civilian Pashtuns
Operation al-Mizan was a series of strategic military campaigns conducted by the Pakistan army and 10,000 United States special operations forces from 2002 to 2006. It spanned five years and consisted of multiple phases. Al-Mizan marked the first significant deployment of Pakistani troops to combat their own backed foreign militants who had established safe havens in North Waziristan, located in the North-West Frontier Province. Approximately 70,000 to 80,000 troops were deployed in the affected areas.
Operation al-Mizan resulted in the first casualties reported in 2002 by the Western Front. It was initiated in response to severe attacks by militants along the Durand Line, targeting US and NATO forces. Before the operation, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) were most heavily affected by the Pakistani military-backed militancy.
The First Battle of Swat, also known as Operation Rah-e-Haq, took place in late 2007 and involved a conflict between Pakistan and the Tehrik-i-Taliban for control of the Swat District. The battle commenced on October 25, 2007, with the Pakistani Army and TTP-led forces vying for dominance over the Swat district. The militants swiftly gained control of the region between October 25 and November 7, 2007, and Operation Rah-e-Haq was conducted in three phases:
The Battle of Bajaur, also called Operation Sherdil, was another military campaign in the Bajaur region. It was launched on August 7, 2008, by the Frontier Corps and Infantry Brigade of the Pakistan Army. The operation aimed to suppress the political movement of the Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan. Until 2007, Bajaur was under the control of Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan and served as al Qaeda’s central command and control hub for activities in Northeast Afghanistan and Kunar province.
Operation Zalzala was a Pakistan Army military offensive and so-called counter-insurgent operation that commenced on January 18, 2008. The operation achieved mixed results, as the army captured the area but failed to apprehend or eliminate Qari Hussain, the operation’s primary objective. Subsequently, the TTP and Pakistani Army were observed jointly controlling the area and sharing cups of tea.
The Second Battle of Swat, also known as Operation Rah-e-Rast, began in May 2009 and involved the Pakistan Army and Tehrik-i- Taliban Pakistan Army-backed militants in a struggle for control over the Swat district. The first Battle of Swat had concluded with a peace agreement signed by the government and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in February 2009. However, clashes between government troops and Tehrik-i- Taliban Pakistan resumed in late April 2009. In response, the government launched military operations throughout the district and other areas to stabilize the region so they could receive billion-dollar funds.
Operation Rah-e-Nijat was an offensive military operation conducted by the unified command of Pakistan Armed Forces against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other Pakistani military-backed extremists in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The operation commenced on June 19, 2009, and a major ground-air offensive was launched on October 17. It became an integral part of the war on Western fronts, resulting in the encirclement and displacement of civilians in the region. However, as was the case with previous operations, no Taliban leadership was captured or eliminated.
Operation Koh-e-Sufaid was a Pakistani-led operation in the Kurram Agency in 2011. It took place from July 4 to August 18, 2011, with the apparently primary objective of dismantling Taliban structures in the Kurram Agency and securing the Thall-Parachinar transit route. However, no Taliban leadership was captured or eliminated, and the Pashtun population remained vulnerable to controlled terrorism.
Pakistan subsequently launched a joint military offensive called Operation Zarb-e-Azb, conducted by the Pakistani armed forces. The operation was purportedly aimed at combating the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the security of Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement for the security of China, as well as targeting Al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network (Taliban) portraying the benefit of the United States, NATO, and Afghanistan. It was initiated on June 15, 2014, in North Waziristan, resulting in the internal displacement of approximately one million Pashtuns from the region within just one month.
During extensive long years of operations, millions of tribal Pashtuns were displaced, witnessing the destruction of their homes, markets, forests, roads, clinics, and schools without any significant impact on eliminating terror group leaders. The military operations carried out by the Pakistani establishment led to the disappearance of tens of thousands of Pashtuns, many of whom remain missing to this day.
In response to the systemic injustices, extrajudicial killings, and state-sponsored terrorism, a group of eight young Pashtun students founded the Maseed Tahfuz Movement in May 2014, later evolving into the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in February 2018 under the leadership of Manzoor Pashteen. The movement advocated for nonviolent resistance against the oppressive actions of the Pakistani establishment. However, instead of addressing the grievances and concerns raised by the PTM, the Pakistani authorities targeted the movement’s leadership, resulting in violent reprisals. Leaders like Arman Lonai, Usman Kakar, Arif Afghan, and others fell victim to brutal killings at the hands of the Pakistani establishment. Furthermore, prominent PTM members, including Hanif Pashteen, Zakeem Wazir, Ali Wazir, Mohsen Dawar, and Manzoor Pashteen, were unlawfully detained and subjected to severe torture in military prisons for extended periods.
In June 2024, the Pakistani establishment declared a new military operation known as Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in the Pashtun region, a move expected to bring about the familiar consequences of casualties, disappearances, and displacement of millions of Pashtuns, echoing the outcomes of past operations. In response to the persistent state-sponsored terrorism, both the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and ordinary Pashtun citizens organized protests against the Pakistani establishment, seeking to hold them accountable for their actions.
During these protests, Gilaman Wazir, a prominent central council member of PTM and a highly influential leader within the movement, was tragically assassinated. Mr. Wazir’s significant role in the PTM as a skilled and charismatic figure could mobilize millions of Pashtuns to participate in these demonstrations, making his untimely death a profound loss for the movement and the Pashtun community at large. His commitment to advocating for human rights, peace, and justice, even in the face of grave risks, is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the cause.
The passing of Gilaman Wazir underscores the ongoing struggle faced by Afghans against systemic injustices and state-sponsored terrorism. Despite the immense challenges and dangers they confront, the resilience and determination of individuals like Mr. Wazir and the collective efforts of movements like PTM continue to illuminate the urgent need for justice, accountability, and respect for human rights in the region.
One such member, Hazrat Naeem Wazir, known as Gilaman Wazir, a young PTM activist and poet, faced persecution even while working abroad. After being apprehended by the Bahraini government and deported to Pakistan at the request of the Pakistani authorities, Gilaman Wazir endured months of imprisonment and torture in Peshawar upon his return. Despite the hardships he faced, Gilaman Wazir remained steadfast in his commitment to advocating for human rights and peace, using his poetry to expose state-sponsored terrorism at significant personal risk.
In a tragic turn of events, Gilaman Wazir was brutally attacked on July 07, 2024, while dining with a friend at a restaurant. He suffered a fatal blow to the back of his head, like previous attacks on PTM members, resulting in his hospitalization and eventual passing at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The lack of coverage by Pakistani media and the absence of official condemnation from government institutions following his death underscores the challenges faced by the PTM and the broader Pashtun community in seeking justice and accountability.
Despite the immense support shown by hundreds of thousands of Pashtuns at Gilaman Wazir’s funeral, the international community’s intervention is crucial in advocating for the rights and protection of millions of victims who continue to endure violations of international laws and conventions, including Human Rights, ICCPR, UNHDR, Rome Statute, and the Geneva Conventions. The tragic loss of Gilaman Wazir exemplifies the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights faced by Pashtuns.