The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has tried to present itself as a representative of the grassroots movement of the Pashtun people for a long time. Nonetheless, the truth is that PTM is a politically deployed front of a malign propaganda that directly or indirectly protects terrorist groups like the so-called FAK/TTP. Coined as a movement driven towards justice, PTM has consistently formed propaganda wings in other countries, especially in democratic Western nations, in the name of so-called community chapters. These two subsequent developments, the formation of PTM Edmonton Chapter in Canada and the Liverpool Unit in the UK, are indicative of how PTM is placing foreign diaspora spaces at the service of maligning Pakistan, the distortion of Pashtun identity, and the subversion of the sacrifices of the security forces in Pakistan.

“PTM is a politically deployed front of malign propaganda that protects terrorist groups like the FAK/TTP.”

It is important to explain that PTM Canada officially commenced its operations in the month of August 2024, and since then, it has spread its organizational identity in different cities of the country. The latest was the formation of the Edmonton Chapter (August 2025), where committees have been constituted of various people, like coordination, finance, advocacy, and social media, to discipline. Similarly, PTM UK had already been in existence with an interim structure supported by coordination committees at the central and European level (see PTM). In this context, the Liverpool Unit made it one of the new sub-branches where various positions were assigned to Tariq Yousafzai, among others.

These processes can, although they seem like normal diaspora organizational activities. On closer inspection, however, their hidden content is revealed. It is not the intention behind such units to serve the diaspora Pashtuns in Canada or the UK, and it is not meant to produce cultural bonds or welfare. Rather, they are propaganda arm appendages of the central PTM campaign to demonize Pakistan, misrepresent state policies, and whitewash the crimes of FAK/TTP terrorists. PTM also uses the conceit of human rights and community organizing to do the same anti-state lobbying, fundraising, and messaging, undermining the fight against terrorism under the guise of Western freedoms.

The on-ground reality is that the Pashtuns are strong believers in their Pakistani state, and they are determined to support with state and its government and army. They do not have the representation of self-appointed diaspora committees of PTM. Pashtuns have been the greatest sufferers of terrorism executed by FAK/TTP, and thousands of their innocent people have been killed in markets, mosques, schools, and villages. On the contrary, PTM has tried at every instance to protect these terrorists by shifting focus away from their heinous acts and once again pointing the finger at the Pakistan Army, which has given its blood and resources to bring peace to the tribal districts and the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Pakistan Government has made huge investments in development schemes, rehabilitation, and integration of tribal regions. Construction of roads, schools, and hospitals, and relocation of displaced families have been accorded high roles by the state in ensuring that far-flung areas are integrated into the national scenario. The Pakistan Army played the role of the knight in shining armor of the Pashtuns, staging operations to eliminate the terrorist safe havens, deactivate terrorist safe havens, and ensure that the normal life of people could resume in regions once overrun by violence. These efforts are seen in the fact that the former FATA has transformed into a secure and developing entity.

“The Edmonton and Liverpool chapters serve as propaganda arms, not diaspora welfare initiatives.”

The policies on TM, however, aim at obliterating these losses. By opening overseas chapters in Canada and the UK, it has attempted to globalise its anti-Pakistan propaganda. Committees: These do not exist to be neutral spaces of activism (see Edmonton, Liverpool). They are the sounding board of the main story by PTM where people have the responsibility of increasing social media-based campaigns, leading marches, and reaching uncorporal groups in the name of advocacy. Such committees candidly overlook terrorism of FAK/TTP, juvenile terrorists as victims, and the security forces of Pakistan as oppressors.

With this distortion, it is not only dishonest but also dangerous. It tries to break the relationship that exists between Pashtuns and the Pakistani state, which is intact regardless of the efforts of PTM. Factually, Pashtuns are ever engaged shoulder to shoulder with the institutions of Pakistan, acknowledging the effort of the Army and the determination of the Government. TM does not guide the internal TM proxies because the history of the diaspora is guided by agents external to TM, and hence not part of the collective will of millions of Pashtuns who identify themselves as proud Pakistanis, who do not desire terrorism, and who yearn to achieve progress within the state.

Formation of the PTM Canada Edmonton Chapter and the PTM UK Liverpool Unit should not be discussed as a separate phenomenon. They are connected to a larger plan, the use of foreign diasporas as instruments of disinformation, influencing activity in hostile quarters, and the creation of an aura of legitimacy in narratives of use only to the enemies of Pakistan. Projecting terrorists as fencekeepers and defaming the Army as the aggressor, PTM compromises the national security of Pakistan and the martyrdom of the citizens.

The reaction to such an agenda is easy to understand: to bring out into the open PTM proxies as cells working on behalf of foreign influence. Pashtuns still form part of Pakistan, and it remains part and parcel of the nation and its future. They are loyal to the state and not several organizations on the fringe that act as the mouthpiece of the terrorists. As Pakistan gains more momentum in combating terrorism and fast-tracks development of the tribal belt, the line of argument of PTM will fall even flatter.

“Pashtuns remain loyal to Pakistan, acknowledging the Army’s sacrifices against terrorism.”

Both the Canadian and British subunits of PTM are not people-oriented platforms, but, rather, propaganda cells. They do it only to attack Pakistan in foreign countries, protect terrorists, and manipulate the truth about Pashtun struggles. The reality is indisputable: Pakistan is on the side of Pashtuns, the Government is serving them and the Army is defending them. TM, in its turn, is nothing but the supporter of terrorists, being their mouthpiece under pseudo-rights and rights of justice.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.