SINCE the start of the war against terror, the Pakhtuns have paid the highest price in terms of loss of lives and destruction of property.

Thousands of Pakhtuns have perished in terrorist attacks. They were internally displaced from their own homeland and housed in large-scale displacement centres in Pakistan.

The entire social fabric of Pakhtun areas is damaged by the ongoing war and many areas are being run as if they are under military occupation. The people have to carry their ID cards at all times even in our villages.

The Pakhtun is willing to put up with all these hardships to prove their loyalty to Pakistan. However, the maltreatment of Pakhtuns in Punjab after the Lahore bomb explosion is a sad tale. As a Pakhtun, I vociferously protest against this attitude and reiterate that Pakhtuns are loyal Pakistanis.

Haider Ali Khan
Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2017