11/07/2025
Natural resources and demographic features certainly outnumber other requirements in promoting human welfare. The evergreen land of Pakhtunkhwa, acting as the juncture between various countries and civilizations has been blessed with a tremendous amount of worthy minerals, gas and oil which could potentially change the destiny of this region. But unfortunately it becomes an oppressive and exploitative force for most of the nations over time. Contrary to the constructive aspects of the strategic potential, the riches of this region have always invited the wrath of the imperialists. From the very first day of the migration of the Pakhtuns in the 16th century from Afghanistan, the Mughals, the Sikhs and the Britishers subsequently strived their best to subjugate the Pakhtun population and get access to the riches of this land.
The most distinctive feature of the British rule in India was the exclusion of the natives from every field of administration and the exploitation of their resources. This phenomena has been greatly debated by Dr. Shashi Tharor in his book “Inglorious Empire” and “The Era of Darkness”. The heartfelt glory, satisfactory life, outstanding infrastructure and the well built institutions of England and the west are not because of their own genius but all these can be attributed to the frequent and brutal exploitation of this region during the British rule. With the departure of the British in 1947, Pakistan inherited the same colonial state structure which was predominantly Monopolized by the Military and Bureaucracy the so-called steel frame of the Raj. This follow up culture of exploitation composed a bitter and oppressive record of history from 1947-1971 which ended in the successful separation of the east wing majority from the oppressive minority of the west wing. Whereas the Pakhtun and Baluch built is still working on their mission of autonomy and survival.
What is most common in the colonial legacy of exploitation is the perpetual use of force and suppression. What Pakistan and the so-called “Na-Maloom” is doing is not new to us. The Britishers also killed, forceful disappeared and deprived the locals of their fertile lands, resource rich deserts and strategic mountains. Pakistan is doing the same in the peripheries of Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. Those who stands in their way are declared “terrorists”. They are treated inhumanly and when they refuse to surrender then their story of life comes to an end accordingly. , and thousands like minded are the victims of this brutal strategy of elimination.
After the martyrdom of Gilman Wazir, Mulana Khanzeb was the most powerful ambassador of peaceful resistance in the Pakhtun built. I engaged with Maulana Khanzeb in Quaid Azam University recently when he was there for the seminar on . I listened to him very carefully, admired from passion of enlightened resistance but what I observed there now came true here in bajaur yesterday. The Black-Colonizers will never let you live a peaceful life because it is not in their culture. Through the silencing of this powerful peaceful voice in Pakhtunkhwa, the state is giving a very clear message to all of us. “Anybody who comes in the way of critical Minerals will be dealt with an iron hand”. And this statement carries much currency because of the new reality that coexist with the global dynamics.
During his visit to America, Aasim Munir was asked to talk about the mission of his visit and meeting with president Trump. He replied “the American military forces have conducted a survey of natural resource exploration in the Pakhtun built during the military operations and we are here to get the investment of America in that project”. Now Pakistan has signed a billion dollars deal with America for critical Minerals. It has to serve the vested interests of America at any cost because America after all is the Qibla Awwal of the power elites of this country. This therefore demand the ruthless exclusion and elimination of the critical voices. And this trend and intensity of target killing, disappearances and bomb blasts will increase in the coming days.
The best course of action for the future of this region is to unite all the political parties and other stakeholders of the province. To debate the issues with the state authorities and to frame a clear and simple worded roadmap for moving forward. The general people should need to focus on their individual priorities and then to look after the interest of the region. Keep your electable, MNAs and MPAs accountable and act timely for the better future of Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and the whole region. As long as you are compartmentalized, divided and confront each other, the more you will face the brutalities of the vested elites. They will be the drivers of your lives and future.
So don’t wait anymore, let’s apart to do our part.
