Pakhtuns bearing brunt of terror, says ANP chief

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The Awami National Party (ANP) says Pakhtuns are bearing the brunt of terrorism due to flawed policies of successive Pakistani governments.

“The government and the establishment have failed to banish terrorism from the country,” ANP chief Aimal Wali Khan told journalists in Charsadda district.

Waging a war against Afghanistan in the garb of combating terrorism was not a wise move, he warned. “Those who are suffering are Pashtuns.”

As a result of the so-called counter-terrorism campaign, the ANP leader noted, the Pashtun nation was being displaced and economically strangulated.

Despite the fencing of the Durand Line and closure of trade routes from Torkham to Chaman, an uptick in terrorist acts raised questions about the performance of Pakistani forces.

Commenting on the situation in Kurram, Aimal Wali recalled: “During the military regime of Ayub Khan, the US had asked for it … the US is building missile launch pads there, forcing locals from their homes.”

mud