Future of Pashtuns lies in education, not armed groups: Aimal Wali

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jun, 2026) Awami National Party (ANP) President and Senator Aimal Wali Khan has said that the problems facing Pashtuns could never be resolved through militias or armed groups, but only through awareness, education and skill development.

In a statement issued from the Bacha Khan Center here on Sunday, the ANP chief reaffirmed his party’s principled stance that all political and social struggles must remain within the constitutional framework of the state. He stressed that no success can be achieved through force or confrontation against the state.

He stated that in any civilized society, the authority to use force rests solely with the state, adding that the rise of non-state armed groups has been one of the major reasons behind worsening instability in the region.

Aimal Wali Khan warned that forming armed groups in the name of resolving issues ultimately harms Pashtuns the most, damaging their businesses, livelihoods, daily life and long-standing social and intellectual traditions. He called for a serious shift away from “militant thinking” toward sustainable solutions.

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Emphasizing modern education and the knowledge economy, he said that without adopting contemporary sciences and properly training the youth, nations cannot progress in today’s world. He described a “knowledge economy” as the only viable path to development and global integration.

The ANP leader also reiterated that Pakistan’s future lies in peaceful coexistence, education and strengthening the writ of the state, adding that citizens who pay taxes and fulfill their responsibilities are entitled to full protection of life, property and livelihoods by the state.

Regarding Balochistan, he said Pashtuns share a historic and brotherly relationship with its people and that the ANP engages only through peaceful, political and constitutional means. He clarified that the party has no links with any separatist or armed organizations operating against the state, while condemning attacks on civilians, including transport vehicles and workers.

He concluded that security, peace and development could only be achieved through education, lawful governance and a strong state system, not through violence or armed struggle.