Over 10,000 Pakistanis Protest Army Operation Against Afghan Militants

Photo: AFP

Thousands Rally Against Pakistan Military Operation, One Protester Killed in Clash

Bannu, Pakistan: Thousands of people rallied on Friday against a planned military operation by the Pakistan military to root out militants along the Afghan border. The protest turned violent, resulting in the death of at least one protester when gunfire broke out, officials and witnesses reported.

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The rally took place in Bannu, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Afghan border. Over 10,000 people, waving white flags and calling for peace, gathered to voice their opposition. The protest was triggered by a recent suicide bombing incident in which an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into an army enclave, killing eight Pakistani troops.

"Military operations have been ongoing for 20 years, yet peace has not been established," protester Jamaluddin Wazir told AFP. "Military operations can never be a substitute for peace."

Earlier this year, Pakistan's government announced a new military campaign to counter violence along the border with Afghanistan. The announcement, lacking specific details, came amidst a surge in violence following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

As the protest in Bannu reached the walls of an army facility, tensions escalated. Witnesses and officials reported that protesters chanted slogans against the army and threw stones at the facility's wall. In response, the military fired shots into the air, causing a stampede. An intelligence official in Peshawar, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the events.

Pakhtun Yar, the provincial minister for public health and a speaker at the protest, confirmed that at least one protester was killed. He accused the military of opening fire on the protesters. "During the rally, shots were fired directly at me and the people standing near me. This wasn't just firing in the air -- it was intended to kill us," Yar told AFP. "The shooting was carried out by those who want to destroy our peace. They want to spill the blood of our people, but the community is no longer willing to tolerate this."

The Pakistan Taliban, a separate group from the Afghan Taliban but with a similar ideology, has waged a bloody campaign in the region for years, killing thousands of civilians and controlling parts of the border region. A military campaign launched in 2014 pushed the Taliban back but displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed numerous homes and businesses, leading to a local backlash and calls for the protection of ethnic Pashtuns' rights.

Protests against Pakistan's powerful military, which analysts say holds significant sway over the government and foreign policy, are rare and often quickly suppressed. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who defied army chiefs after being ousted from power, is currently in jail on charges of inciting protests against the military. His party has faced a major crackdown, with supporters and leaders rounded up last year for staging an unprecedented day of rallies against the military, accusing it of political interference.

Violence along the border has surged since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has accused Kabul of failing to root out militant groups taking shelter on Afghan soil while preparing assaults on Pakistan. The Taliban government insists it will not allow foreign militant outfits to operate from Afghanistan, but relations between Islamabad and Kabul have soured over the issue.