LANDIKOTAL
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on the third and last day of Pashtun national Jirga has released a comprehensive research white Paper titled “War and Militarization Damages, the case of Pashtuns” that had been suffered the Pashtuns belt in the past decads.
Earlier in the three days of Pashtun Jirga, leaders of different political parities including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamat-e-Islami and Awami National Party leaders visited and expressed their view points.
The PTM leaders said that the aim of the white paper was aimed to document the severe impacts of war, militarization and systemic injustices in Pakhtunkhwa.This groundbreaking report was served as a foundational resource for discussions during the first day of the Pashtun national Jirga, where the long-standing human and economic toll of war in the region was highlighted.
The White Paper, based on extensive grassroots research and surveys conducted by PTM, underscores the following key findings from a comprehensive survey on war damages and militarization across 26 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The report highlighted the massive displacement of Pashtuns citizens where over 3.7 million civilians displaced as a result of military operations conducted in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including ex-Fata.
The report also discussed that due to militancy and military operations thousands of Pashuns have not only been displaced but thousands disappeared.
PTM and Pashtuns leaders of different political parties leaders said a large number of civilian casualties happened due to landmines incidents but the victims remained unaccounted.
The white paper mentioned that total number of terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan from March 2000 to September 2024 amounted to 68,691, with 51,535 (approximately 75.03%) of these fatalities occurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the erstwhile federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the Pashtun districts of Balochistan.
The white paper also mentioned that war on Pashtuns belt also resulted in economic devastation including the collapse of key industries, with poverty rates exceeding 27% in conflict-affected areas.
It said widespread damages to schools and hospitals, particularly impacting women and children. An estimated 20 percent of damaged homes have been completely destroyed while the rest the needed to be repaired.
PTM leaders raising voice and demanding to remove the landines from the tribal areas that had been placed to target militants. The PTM head Manzoor Ahmad Pahsteen said more than 178 landmine blasts recorded in South Waziristan alone, resulting in 800 deaths due to landmine explosions.He said 250 children left physically impaired while 77 individuals losing their sight after they came under the landmines blasts.
PTM leaders in the white papers said that approximately 4,000 cattle killed in the landmines blasts while a laege number injured.
Pashteen said PTM has successfully registered 279 cases of landmine explosions and established a computerized record of these incidents.
Manzoor Pashteen said a total of 11 military operations conducted in KP and ex-Fata in the past years.He said approximately 150 attacks on Compact Disk(CD) shops, music centers and events, destroying 1,000 to 1,500 shops in KP and ex-Fata.
He said 50 Sufi shrines have been attacked by militants, ending celebrations and music events associated with these sites.
The white paper also mentioned the current data on missing Persons.
It said a total of 4,952 missing persons recorded across 26 districts.The PTM leaders said the research lighted the untold stories of Pashtun suffering and issues a strong call for justice, reparations, and accountability. It marks a significant step in addressing the grievances of Pashtuns as the region continues to grapple with the destructive legacy of war and militarization.
Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen in his address said that rhe White Paper would be published online on the official Jirga website simultaneously with the data presentation held in Regilama area of Jamrud in Khyber district.
