Pakistani Opposition Leader Blames Russia and US for Afghanistan’s Devastation
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the opposition and the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party in Pakistan, emphasized the responsibility of Russia and the United States in the decades of crisis and war that have devastated Afghanistan during a gathering in Balochistan. He criticized the long-standing conflict and attributed much of the destruction to the former Soviet Union, the US, and their allies, calling on these countries to be accountable to the Afghan people.
Achakzai also urged all factions to participate in shaping the current Afghanistan and stressed the importance of Afghan unity in defending their land. Addressing religious scholars, tribal elders, and politicians of Pakistan, he condemned the ongoing oppression and discrimination against Pashtuns in Punjab and Sindh provinces and called for an end to these unjust practices.
According to him, “Russia and the United States committed massacres in Afghanistan and must compensate the Afghan people. Afghanistan should be rebuilt, and the Pashtuns, who have been victims of violence, must receive attention.” He added, “The violence against Pashtuns in Pakistan is so severe that even having a beard or wearing a lungi has become a problem for them, and this injustice must be stopped.”
Experts believe Achakzai’s statements reflect deep political and ethnic grievances among Pakistan’s Pashtun community, whose rights are overlooked by the Pakistani government. This situation could lead to political instability and weaken ethnic ties within the country.
Previously, on August 10, a group of protesters in Chaman held a gathering condemning military operations, arrests, and insecurity as part of a policy of suppressing Pashtuns, demanding the protection of this minority’s rights.
