Why Pakhtuns' peace now?
Why Peace for Pakhtuns Now?
By Jan Assakzai
The situation in Pakhtun areas of Pakistan has quite alarmed many Pakhtun residents in the West. As a reflection of the growing anxiety, a new forum called Peace for Pakhtuns Now (PPN) has been launched in UK. The forum wants a new Pakhtun European voice heard on Pakhtun issues in Pakistan and supports the Pakhtun community-who are the victims of militancy and terrorism.
While PPN is a Diaspora Pakhtun movement, working primarily amongst the Pakistani public and concerned citizens of the world, it will also engage in dialogue and joint activities with Pakistan’s political leaders, media person, and civil society to help bring bear public pressure on militants end bombing campaign, and on the Pakistani government to do more for Paktuns’ peace.
The forum was started by a small group of Pakhtun Diaspora activists associated with different walks of life. Their decision was informed by the fact that it is commonly believed in western capitals that Pakhtun areas in Pakistan are supplying more recruits to Al Qaeda and terrorists to undermine the interest of the Western countries than any part of the world. Thus a forum was needed to actually help Pakhtuns’ image improve in Europe since they have been wrongly depicted as Taliban and extremists.
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The Pakhtun community in UK is increasingly evolving. This is the first generation of Pakhtuns who have come to UK as students, and economic migrants. Particularly following the instable situation in Pakhtun areas in Pakistan, the number of Pakhtuns coming over here has increased manifold. Though there are no exact figures of Pakhtuns residents, they are estimated to be in thousands.
You can also hear individuals speaking Pakhtu in Asian dominated streets and some time in public transport which has never been the case a couple of years ago. The situation in Pakhtun areas of Pakistan has seized their imagination and they are remained concerned about developments back home. Over here, they have no official voice and those over 80 percent of Pakhtuns in UK don’t even belong to any sort of organisation and, therefore, do not feel their voices are represented.
The forums attempts to represent their concerns by underscoring Pakhtuns’s right to leave in peace and also by urging Pakistan for exerting a real effort to wipe out the Taliban and Al-Qaeda on the border.
What PPN is trying to show is that within the Pakhtun community there is a new debate - an open debate - and that Pakhtuns are not just the passive subjects and victims; but they are always ready to stand up to the fear and intimidation of militants and also hold the government accountable to its obligation: to protect citizens from terrorism.
When Pakistan decided to end the hold of Taliban in Swat, architects of the forum and the general Pakistani citizens realised that public pressure and action against Taliban could and would dictate the course of history.
Majority of Diaspora Pakhtuns fully supported Pakistan army’s Swat operation and consistently urged Islamabad not to rest till the complete elimination of militants’ bases in the border region.
As in time, PPN has become convinced that the only viable solution to end militancy in Pakhtun areas was the complete destruction of militants’ infrastructure.
PPN also supported any and all steps promising to rehabilitate the internally displaced Pakhtuns, in addition to pressing all Pakistani parties in power and opposition to initiate steps to bring about public pressure on militants and their benefactors.
But the fact is that due to Pakistan’ policy of distinguishing between the “good” and the “bad” Taliban, Pakhtun areas have been turned into safe havens causing immense suffering and hardship to the community.
So the message of the forum was like: “we are speaking as friends of Pakistan and we are saying: you are going to make a mistake; you have to decide how to behave, not us. But as friends, as Pakhtuns, we want to tell you that you are going down a wrong path by selectively targeting militants."
Peace for Pakhtuns Now will continue conducting a dialogue with people and organisations to help end the victimisation of Pakhtun community at the hands of terrorists.
The forum operates through public campaigns, advertisements, petitions, distribution of educational materials, conferences, lectures, surveys, dialogue groups, street activities, vigils, and demonstrations.
“The responses we have received so far show that there are many people - Pakhtuns - who are thankful for us for bringing their voice out. People are tired of not having any hope”, said PPN’s website.
=============================================================
Author is a London-based freelance journalist and member of the forum.
Janassakzai200@gmail.com
By Jan Assakzai
The situation in Pakhtun areas of Pakistan has quite alarmed many Pakhtun residents in the West. As a reflection of the growing anxiety, a new forum called Peace for Pakhtuns Now (PPN) has been launched in UK. The forum wants a new Pakhtun European voice heard on Pakhtun issues in Pakistan and supports the Pakhtun community-who are the victims of militancy and terrorism.
While PPN is a Diaspora Pakhtun movement, working primarily amongst the Pakistani public and concerned citizens of the world, it will also engage in dialogue and joint activities with Pakistan’s political leaders, media person, and civil society to help bring bear public pressure on militants end bombing campaign, and on the Pakistani government to do more for Paktuns’ peace.
The forum was started by a small group of Pakhtun Diaspora activists associated with different walks of life. Their decision was informed by the fact that it is commonly believed in western capitals that Pakhtun areas in Pakistan are supplying more recruits to Al Qaeda and terrorists to undermine the interest of the Western countries than any part of the world. Thus a forum was needed to actually help Pakhtuns’ image improve in Europe since they have been wrongly depicted as Taliban and extremists.
.
The Pakhtun community in UK is increasingly evolving. This is the first generation of Pakhtuns who have come to UK as students, and economic migrants. Particularly following the instable situation in Pakhtun areas in Pakistan, the number of Pakhtuns coming over here has increased manifold. Though there are no exact figures of Pakhtuns residents, they are estimated to be in thousands.
You can also hear individuals speaking Pakhtu in Asian dominated streets and some time in public transport which has never been the case a couple of years ago. The situation in Pakhtun areas of Pakistan has seized their imagination and they are remained concerned about developments back home. Over here, they have no official voice and those over 80 percent of Pakhtuns in UK don’t even belong to any sort of organisation and, therefore, do not feel their voices are represented.
The forums attempts to represent their concerns by underscoring Pakhtuns’s right to leave in peace and also by urging Pakistan for exerting a real effort to wipe out the Taliban and Al-Qaeda on the border.
What PPN is trying to show is that within the Pakhtun community there is a new debate - an open debate - and that Pakhtuns are not just the passive subjects and victims; but they are always ready to stand up to the fear and intimidation of militants and also hold the government accountable to its obligation: to protect citizens from terrorism.
When Pakistan decided to end the hold of Taliban in Swat, architects of the forum and the general Pakistani citizens realised that public pressure and action against Taliban could and would dictate the course of history.
Majority of Diaspora Pakhtuns fully supported Pakistan army’s Swat operation and consistently urged Islamabad not to rest till the complete elimination of militants’ bases in the border region.
As in time, PPN has become convinced that the only viable solution to end militancy in Pakhtun areas was the complete destruction of militants’ infrastructure.
PPN also supported any and all steps promising to rehabilitate the internally displaced Pakhtuns, in addition to pressing all Pakistani parties in power and opposition to initiate steps to bring about public pressure on militants and their benefactors.
But the fact is that due to Pakistan’ policy of distinguishing between the “good” and the “bad” Taliban, Pakhtun areas have been turned into safe havens causing immense suffering and hardship to the community.
So the message of the forum was like: “we are speaking as friends of Pakistan and we are saying: you are going to make a mistake; you have to decide how to behave, not us. But as friends, as Pakhtuns, we want to tell you that you are going down a wrong path by selectively targeting militants."
Peace for Pakhtuns Now will continue conducting a dialogue with people and organisations to help end the victimisation of Pakhtun community at the hands of terrorists.
The forum operates through public campaigns, advertisements, petitions, distribution of educational materials, conferences, lectures, surveys, dialogue groups, street activities, vigils, and demonstrations.
“The responses we have received so far show that there are many people - Pakhtuns - who are thankful for us for bringing their voice out. People are tired of not having any hope”, said PPN’s website.
=============================================================
Author is a London-based freelance journalist and member of the forum.
Janassakzai200@gmail.com
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