In Geneva [Switzerland], the executive director of the Khyber Institute and representative of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement () in Europe, Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi, has expressed concern over the ongoing protests by Pashtuns against the strict visa regulations imposed by the government Pakistani.
Afridi, who has been participating in the 56th ordinary session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, has stated that these regulations violate international law and seriously affect the social, economic and financial well-being of the Pashtun people.
"For the last 8 months, Pashtuns have been protesting against the Pakistani government's strict visa regulations, which violate international law. People living in the surrounding area, in the border areas and especially along the controversial Line Durand, they have families, businesses and social connections on both sides," Afridi said.
"Restraining these people will severely affect the Pashtun people economically, socially and financially," the Pashtun activist said while speaking to ANI.
Afridi highlighted the Pakistani government and military's violent responses to peaceful protests.
The representative said: "For the last month, the Pashtuns have been protesting and have organized a sit-in in Chaman. But instead of listening to the grievances of the Pashtun people, especially the , the Pakistani government and its army are attacking the protesters and the citizens. "They have systematically attacked the sit-in several times and recently killed a 15-year-old boy. More than 200 Pashtun leaders have been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani military forces.
"This is a violation of international law and goes against our basic fundamental rights: our right to peaceful assembly and our right to freedom of expression," he said.
Last year, the Pakistani government decided that only those with valid passports and visas would be allowed to cross the Chaman border crossing.
Previously, Pakistanis and Afghans could cross the border with their respective identity cards.
The move to strict document requirements has disrupted life for locals, leaving hundreds of Pashtuns camped outside the Friendship Gate, the authorized border crossing between Chaman and Afghanistan's Spin-Boldak district, in protest against the single document regime.
Afridi accused the Pakistani army of extrajudicial killings and attacking innocent civilians under the pretext of operations against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda.
He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to protect the fundamental rights of the Pashtun people against the Pakistani army, which he accused of serious human rights violations against several ethnic minorities, including the Baloch, Sindhis and Kashmiris.
"More than 200,000 Pashtun houses have been destroyed, 25,000 shops have been demolished and 80,000 Pashtuns have been killed in the army's operation called Zarb-e-Azb," Afridi said.
He said: "We have protested against this, but the Pakistani army has joined the TTP and resettled their families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Now, the Pakistani army is announcing operations in which the Pashtuns are going to suffer. Pakistan's economy is a The war economy, whether waging war within the country or continuing proxy wars against others, Pashtuns have faced genocide for the past 20 years, and we will see a sudden increase. We want to inform the international community, especially the regional powers, to interfere and protect the Pashtuns."
Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi called for international attention to the plight of Pashtuns, Balochs, Sindhis and Kashmiris.
"Historical nations have no relevance in this country. They have realized that the right to self-determination is the only way forward. We ask the international community to help us while we are being tortured, facing enforced disappearances and our businesses are being destroyed. Terrorism is increasing in Pakistan and continues to commit genocide of Balochs, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Kashmiris," Afridi concluded.
Afridi, who has been participating in the 56th ordinary session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, has stated that these regulations violate international law and seriously affect the social, economic and financial well-being of the Pashtun people.
"For the last 8 months, Pashtuns have been protesting against the Pakistani government's strict visa regulations, which violate international law. People living in the surrounding area, in the border areas and especially along the controversial Line Durand, they have families, businesses and social connections on both sides," Afridi said.
"Restraining these people will severely affect the Pashtun people economically, socially and financially," the Pashtun activist said while speaking to ANI.
Afridi highlighted the Pakistani government and military's violent responses to peaceful protests.
The representative said: "For the last month, the Pashtuns have been protesting and have organized a sit-in in Chaman. But instead of listening to the grievances of the Pashtun people, especially the , the Pakistani government and its army are attacking the protesters and the citizens. "They have systematically attacked the sit-in several times and recently killed a 15-year-old boy. More than 200 Pashtun leaders have been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani military forces.
"This is a violation of international law and goes against our basic fundamental rights: our right to peaceful assembly and our right to freedom of expression," he said.
Last year, the Pakistani government decided that only those with valid passports and visas would be allowed to cross the Chaman border crossing.
Previously, Pakistanis and Afghans could cross the border with their respective identity cards.
The move to strict document requirements has disrupted life for locals, leaving hundreds of Pashtuns camped outside the Friendship Gate, the authorized border crossing between Chaman and Afghanistan's Spin-Boldak district, in protest against the single document regime.
Afridi accused the Pakistani army of extrajudicial killings and attacking innocent civilians under the pretext of operations against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda.
He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to protect the fundamental rights of the Pashtun people against the Pakistani army, which he accused of serious human rights violations against several ethnic minorities, including the Baloch, Sindhis and Kashmiris.
"More than 200,000 Pashtun houses have been destroyed, 25,000 shops have been demolished and 80,000 Pashtuns have been killed in the army's operation called Zarb-e-Azb," Afridi said.
He said: "We have protested against this, but the Pakistani army has joined the TTP and resettled their families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Now, the Pakistani army is announcing operations in which the Pashtuns are going to suffer. Pakistan's economy is a The war economy, whether waging war within the country or continuing proxy wars against others, Pashtuns have faced genocide for the past 20 years, and we will see a sudden increase. We want to inform the international community, especially the regional powers, to interfere and protect the Pashtuns."
Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi called for international attention to the plight of Pashtuns, Balochs, Sindhis and Kashmiris.
"Historical nations have no relevance in this country. They have realized that the right to self-determination is the only way forward. We ask the international community to help us while we are being tortured, facing enforced disappearances and our businesses are being destroyed. Terrorism is increasing in Pakistan and continues to commit genocide of Balochs, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Kashmiris," Afridi concluded.
