Pakistani Opposition Leader Urges Pashtuns to Obtain Afghan Identity Cards

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of an opposition party in Pakistan, has called on Pashtuns in the country to apply for Afghan identity cards (tazkira). He emphasized that every Pashtun should have an Afghan tazkira, a statement that has sparked varied reactions within Pakistan’s political landscape.

Achakzai made this request on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, noting that millions of Pakistani citizens hold dual citizenships with countries such as Canada, Italy, and others. He pointed out that possessing official identity documents from more than one country should not be considered unusual.

The tazkira is the official identity document issued by Afghan authorities to citizens of Afghanistan. In recent years, there have been extensive debates about its distribution and registration both inside and outside Afghanistan. Achakzai’s remarks have fueled discussions among social media users and some political figures within this context.

So far, Pakistani officials have not publicly responded to these statements. However, the issue is likely to remain a controversial topic within Pakistan’s political and ethnic spheres.