Achakzai Calls for Compensation to Afghanistan Over Decades of War

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Pakistan’s opposition leader and head of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, has emphasized at a gathering in Balochistan that the former Soviet Union, the United States, and their allies bear responsibility for part of the destruction and crises Afghanistan has suffered during decades of war. 

He stressed that these countries must be held accountable for the damage inflicted on Afghanistan.

Achakzai also called for collective participation in shaping present-day Afghanistan and unity among Afghans to defend their homeland. Meanwhile, he urged religious scholars, tribal elders, and politicians not to remain silent over what he described as oppression and discrimination against Pashtuns in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, calling for action to prevent such treatment.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, said: “Russia and the United States carried out massacres in Afghanistan and must pay compensation to Afghans. They must rebuild Afghanistan and help it stand on its own feet. Pashtuns, all Pashtuns, were victims of this violence. The world has reached a point where even the death of an animal is considered important. Our religious scholars, spiritual leaders, and politicians must understand that if the death of an animal is accounted for, then the deaths of Pashtuns must also be accounted for. You are being oppressed in Punjab and Sindh, and your beards and turbans have become a source of trouble for you. We must put an end to this oppression.”

Anlaysts believe Achakzai’s remarks reflect political and ethnic grievances among a segment of Pashtuns. They say his statements demonstrate that Pashtun rights and the Pakistani government’s treatment of Pashtuns remain major points of disagreement among the country’s political groups. They add that the continuation of this situation could affect interethnic relations and Pakistan’s political stability.

Aziz Maarij, a former Afghan diplomat, said: “These countries must compensate Afghanistan for the damage they have caused. They should contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and make long-term investments in the country’s infrastructure. They must also provide financial assistance to families who have suffered casualties or lost family members so that their difficulties can be addressed. Otherwise, these countries remain indebted to Afghanistan and bear responsibility.”

Enayatullah Adel, a political analyst, said: “Pashtuns in Pakistan, particularly in border areas, complain of insecurity, discrimination, economic deprivation, and mistreatment. The Pakistani government must understand that no country can achieve stability through pressure and discrimination. Genuine security is achieved through justice, the protection of citizens’ rights, and the political participation of all ethnic groups.”

Earlier, on August 10, 2025, a number of protesters held a demonstration in Chaman, describing insecurity, military operations, and arrests as part of a policy aimed at suppressing Pashtuns. They demanded that their rights be guaranteed.