Pashtuns and Pakistan Army: A Proposal for Equitable Collaboration

The military has been the most dignified institution of Pakistan, but this trend has recently challenged by young Pashtuns, the second largest ethnic group in country. Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement has emerged as nonviolent group to counter military’s security narrative in tribal areas. It claims Pakistan Army to be responsible for sufferings that Pashtuns have been facing in last four decades. Pakistan Army views PTM as a foreign agenda holder to destabilize Pakistan and deepen ethnic divides in it. To respond this cross-narrative, this paper proposes a six-element change process for equitable collaboration between Pashtun leadership and the Pakistan Army.