Ilyas Pashteen, a prominent member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Khyber, was taken into custody by Frontier Corps (FC) personnel on Sunday. Reportedly, Pashteen was held at a nearby camp, where he was subjected to four hours of torture before being released late at night.

The arrest and subsequent torture of Pashteen have sparked concerns about the targeted repression of Pashtun political activists, while those responsible for ongoing unrest remain unaddressed. PTM leaders have criticized the arrest orders issued earlier for key PTM members, denouncing them as a blatant effort to suppress the democratic and peaceful struggles of oppressed and marginalized communities.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of suppression against Pashtun voices. The ongoing unrest is manufactured, pointing to a historical context where the Punjabi-Pak military has exploited Pashtun lands and resources since 1947. The military has labeled Pashtuns as terrorists or militants, abducting and killing them once their strategic interests are fulfilled.

The PTM continues to condemn these actions and calls for an end to the suppression of Pashtun voices and democratic movements.

Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, has issued a strong condemnation of the Iranian government over the persecution of Afghan nationals in the country. In an official statement, Pashteen denounced the treatment of Afghans in Iran as “illegal, a violation of human rights, and against human principles.”

Pashteen’s call for action follows the circulation of a disturbing video on social media showing an Afghan child being tortured by Iranian police. The video has sparked widespread outrage and criticism, prompting Pashteen to demand that the Iranian government address the situation urgently and protect the rights of Afghan refugees and migrants.

This plea comes amid reports that Iranian police have recently intensified their crackdown on Afghan nationals, resulting in numerous arrests and further escalation of tensions.

The current turmoil reflects broader regional grievances, rooted in historical conflicts. For decades, Pashtuns have found themselves caught between the Iranian authority and Pak Army, enduring relentless exploitation. This ongoing strife has compounded the difficulties faced by the Pashtun community, which has been systematically grinded between these two brutal forces.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur (HGB), an ally of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Orakzai Scouts post in Tirah Valley, resulting in the death of seven soldiers and injuries to twelve others.

This marks the first known attack by HGB in Khyber District, as the group had previously been associated primarily with Waziristan and Bannu. A video released by the militants shows weapons and ammunition confiscated from the military outpost in Tirah Valley.

Local communities have voiced strong criticisms against the security forces, for exacerbating the region’s plight. Decades of exploitation, dating back to 1947 when the area came under the control of the Punjabi Pakistan Army, have left the Pashtuns vulnerable. The local sentiment is that the Army uses Pashtuns for its own agenda, only to label them as terrorists and targets them later.

The situation for civilians has deteriorated as both the TTP and Pak Army are implicated in violence against them. While the Pak Army fails to take effective action against terrorists, it closely monitors and restricts civilians in the region.

The Pashtun rights organization, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), argues that these attacks occur under the supervision of the Punjabi Pak Army and its generals. They contend that the terror and fear inflicted on the region come at the expense of the Pashtun population, who bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.