Pakistan’s Fragile Grip: How Repression, Extremism, and Ethnic Suppression Sustain an Artificial State

Pakistan’s recent decision to ban the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) under its anti-terrorism laws reflects the state’s deeply entrenched strategy of using authoritarian measures to suppress dissent, particularly in ethnic minority regions. The ban epitomizes Pakistan’s long history of weaponizing security rhetoric to maintain its geopolitical and internal control, which has consistently revolved around exploiting religious extremism, ethnic division, and international conflicts. The PTM crackdown serves as yet another reminder of how the state continues to consolidate power by invoking the rhetoric of national security—while suppressing legitimate demands for justice and accountability.

Pakistan’s Foundation and Reliance on Extremism

Pakistan was artificially created in 1947 based on a flawed two-nation theory, which suggested that Muslims of the Indian subcontinent required a separate homeland. However, it became clear early on that the country lacked a coherent identity beyond Islam, leaving it vulnerable to internal ethnic divisions. As a result, the ruling elites gradually turned to Islamic extremism as a unifying force, fostering militant groups not only to suppress domestic dissent but also to pursue regional influence, particularly in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Religious militancy became a state tool, cultivated and used by both the military and intelligence apparatuses, solidifying Pakistan’s identity at the expense of minorities and dissenters.

War on Terror: A Double-Edged Sword

While Pakistan presented itself as a U.S. ally during the War on Terror, it simultaneously exploited the conflict for domestic control. Counterterrorism operations in Pashtun and Baluch territories served as a pretext for military occupations and draconian laws, further marginalizing these regions. The PTM emerged from the ruins of these operations, as Pashtuns became the primary victims of indiscriminate violence, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. Instead of addressing these grievances, the state continues to vilify the PTM, using it as a scapegoat under anti-terrorism laws.

Ethnic Suppression as State Policy

The crackdown on PTM is consistent with Pakistan’s long-standing pattern of repressing ethnic movements. This pattern became starkly visible with the secession of East Pakistan in 1971, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. The state’s failure to accommodate ethnic diversity—treating non-Punjabi groups with suspicion—continues today, with the Baluch and Pashtuns bearing the brunt of this exclusion. The fear of another separatist movement, akin to the Bangladesh example, looms large over the military establishment, driving its harsh response to the PTM’s peaceful activism.

Pakistan’s Misuse of Anti-Terror Laws

The use of anti-terror legislation to suppress the PTM reflects a broader trend where Pakistan conflates dissent with terrorism. Human rights organizations have long criticized the state for arbitrarily arresting activists, journalists, and political figures under the guise of counterterrorism. The recent ban on the PTM, in particular, exemplifies how the state manipulates the anti-terror framework to label legitimate political activism as a security threat. Such tactics reveal the military establishment’s unwillingness to tolerate any challenge to its authority, especially in strategically significant areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.

International Implications and Western Hypocrisy

Pakistan’s manipulation of the War on Terror to target ethnic minorities exposes the double standards of Western powers. While the West has criticized Pakistan for harboring extremist groups, it has largely overlooked the state’s brutal repression of minorities under the same security narrative. The continued U.S. military aid and international tolerance for Pakistan’s abuses have emboldened the military establishment, allowing it to maintain internal dominance while avoiding meaningful reform.

Conclusion: A Crisis of Legitimacy

The ban on the PTM highlights Pakistan’s crisis of legitimacy. By suppressing peaceful movements demanding basic human rights, the state only deepens the sense of alienation and resentment among ethnic minorities. Pakistan’s over-reliance on Islamic extremism, ethnic suppression, and authoritarian measures risks further fragmenting the country, as it did with the separation of Bangladesh. Unless Pakistan embraces political pluralism, acknowledges ethnic diversity, and holds the military accountable for its abuses, the state will remain trapped in a perpetual cycle of internal conflict and instability.

The crackdown on the PTM is not just a local matter; it is a reflection of the systemic issues rooted in Pakistan’s foundation—an artificial state that continues to rely on repression and extremism to maintain a fragile grip on power.

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