Why Pashtun are not celebrating 14 August

Many Pashtuns in Pakistan do not celebrate 14 August due to the ongoing military operations and human rights abuses in their regions. Over the past two decades, areas like the former FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced displacement, enforced disappearances, and loss of civilian lives during counter-terrorism campaigns. For some Pashtuns, these experiences have fostered feelings of marginalization and alienation from the state, leading them to view Independence Day not as a symbol of freedom, but as a reminder of their community’s suffering.