Gun Is Not a Permanent Solution to Any Political or National Issue, Pashtun Land Must Not Be Used for Proxy Conflicts: Mahmood Achakzai

QUETTA: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, head of the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP), and chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mahmood Khan Achakzai, has said that the gun is not a permanent solution to any political or national issue and called for an end to the use of Pashtun land for wars and proxy conflicts.

Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Pashtun National Jirga in Quetta, Achakzai said the serious political, economic, constitutional and law-and-order challenges confronting the Pashtun nation could not be resolved by any single political party, individual or tribe.

He said the current situation demanded unity, collective wisdom and a mutually agreed national strategy from the entire Pashtun nation.

Achakzai said the participation of elders, religious scholars, lawyers, traders, farmers, youth, women, social workers and intellectuals from different political parties, tribes, regions and schools of thought demonstrated that Pashtuns were serious about their future and wanted a peaceful and democratic solution to their problems.

He said the gathering was not a jirga of any particular political party but represented the survival, security, dignity and future of the entire Pashtun nation.

He noted that throughout history, Pashtun elders and people had turned to jirgas for collective deliberation and consensus whenever the nation faced extraordinary circumstances. He said the current jirga was a continuation of the decisions of the historic Pashtun National Jirga held in Bannu and aimed to bring together different segments of society to determine the way forward in light of ground realities.

Mahmood Achakzai said the Pashtun nation was passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. He said insecurity, terrorism, target killings, extortion, kidnappings, unsafe highways, closure of businesses and a persistent atmosphere of fear had made the lives of ordinary citizens extremely difficult.

He said every segment of society, including workers, traders, transporters, farmers, students and government employees, was being affected by uncertainty, while families were deeply concerned about the future of their children.

The PkMAP chairman said Pashtuns were not terrorists but a peace-loving, hospitable and humanitarian people who valued their traditions.

“The use of Pashtun land for wars, proxy conflicts and the interests of global powers must end,” he said, adding that the gun could never provide a permanent solution to political or national issues. The world’s most difficult conflicts ultimately had to be resolved through negotiations, he added.

He stressed that the Constitution, law, political dialogue and elected civilian institutions must play a decisive role in restoring trust between the state and the people, ending insecurity and establishing lasting peace.

Achakzai said Pakistan was a common country belonging to all its nationalities, including Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Saraikis and Pashtuns, and there should be neither masters nor slaves in the country.

He said Pakistan could become strong only when all nationalities, provinces and citizens were guaranteed equal constitutional rights, control over their resources and genuine representation in governance.

“A nation can be silenced through force, but its political consciousness, national identity, constitutional rights and claim over the resources of its land cannot be suppressed forever,” he said.

The opposition leader said the country could only overcome its current crises by ensuring constitutional supremacy, parliamentary sovereignty, an independent judiciary and respect for the people’s vote.

He said non-representative arrangements, interference in election results and restrictions on the powers of elected institutions could not bring political stability.

He called for free, fair and transparent elections, saying that whoever received the people’s vote should be given the opportunity to govern and all state institutions should perform their duties within their constitutional limits.

Without accepting the people’s mandate, neither the economy could be stabilized nor trust between the state and citizens restored, he added.

Achakzai said the mountains and lands of Pashtun areas were rich in lithium, gold, silver, copper, coal and other valuable minerals, yet local youth were still forced to travel abroad in search of employment.

He said no agreement, allocation or policy concerning natural resources could be accepted by ignoring the consent and constitutional rights of local communities.

“The first right over land, water, minerals and other resources belongs to the local people,” he said, adding that development projects must ensure their meaningful share in employment, revenue and decision-making.

Mahmood Achakzai said the Pashtun nation must not only complain about others but also examine its own internal weaknesses, differences and shortcomings.

He said political parties, tribal elders, religious scholars and youth must rise above personal and group differences and unite for the common interests of the nation.

He said differences of opinion were a democratic right, but a common position was essential on fundamental issues concerning national survival, peace, resources, dignity and the future.

Achakzai linked peace and stability in Afghanistan with peace across the region, particularly in Pakistan and Pashtun areas.

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan should resolve their issues on the basis of mutual respect, sovereignty, non-interference and brotherly relations. Instead of creating difficulties for people living on both sides of the border, he called for greater opportunities for legal trade, movement and employment while respecting their historic, cultural, family and economic ties.

The PkMAP chairman described the proposals, complaints and recommendations presented during the various sessions of the jirga as a valuable national asset.

He said the recommendations would not be allowed to remain confined to speeches and called for an organized mechanism and relevant committees to implement the jirga’s decisions, monitor progress and formulate a future national strategy.

He presented the jirga’s resolutions and decisions before the participants and secured their endorsement, saying the decisions would provide guidance for a peaceful, democratic and constitutional future for the Pashtun nation.

Achakzai thanked all political and tribal leaders, religious scholars, women, youth, lawyers, traders, journalists, social media workers, organizers and volunteers who participated in the three-day Pashtun National Jirga.