Pashtuns Cannot Achieve Their Rights Without Fighting Taliban, Says Former Pakistani MP

Mohsin Dawar, the leader of Pakistan's National Democratic Movement, has stated that anyone who wishes to advocate for rights of Pashtuns must first take a stand against the Taliban.

In a message posted on his Facebook page on Friday, he emphasised that without confronting the Taliban, Pashtuns’ rights cannot be achieved. He further said that those who are fighting for Pashtuns’ rights must first make a move against the Taliban.

Referring to some Pashtun nationalists who, in his view, show leniency toward the Taliban and adopt a softer stance against the group, Dawar said that if anyone tries to justify or provide excuses for legitimising the Taliban, their statements against the establishment [Pakistan's military] are baseless and false.

He also clarified that such approaches and policies are not a fight for Pashtun rights but rather a betrayal of those rights under the guise of struggle.

Dawar urged Pashtun nationalists in Pakistan who adopt a soft stance toward the Taliban to learn from "Afghanistan's experience”.

Although Dawar did not explicitly name any individuals, recent days have seen tensions and disagreements on social media between supporters of Dawar's party and those of Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a Pashtun nationalist politician in Pakistan.

Dawar concluded by stating, "Accepting the Taliban is a betrayal of your nation and people."