At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pakistan has found itself at the centre of controversy as Pashtun rights activists and human rights groups held protests accusing the Pakistani government and military of involvement in killings, enforced disappearances and other abuses targeting Pashtun communities. 

Demonstrations took place near the annual gathering of global leaders, drawing international attention to longstanding ethnic and human rights grievances against Islamabad.  Members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and allied campaigners staged peaceful protests during the forum, calling on global leaders to address alleged extrajudicial killings, disappearances and military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other Pashtun-majority regions. 

Organisers accused Pakistan’s civilian leadership and army of responsibility for what they described as brutal state actions against ethnic Pashtuns, and urged the international community to take notice of the situation. Protesters also reported that some participants were detained or restricted by Swiss authorities on security grounds related to the ongoing World Economic Forum events. They demanded the release of detained activists and called for an independent inquiry into their allegations.

The controversy highlights persistent tensions between the Pakistani state and Pashtun rights groups that have been vocal about alleged human rights violations, including claims of unlawful killings and forced disappearances. The PTM, founded as a movement seeking justice and greater protections for Pashtuns, has long criticised the security establishment and sought accountability for past incidents that have fuelled ethnic discontent. The protests at a major global forum like Davos have amplified these grievances on an international stage, adding to the diplomatic pressures facing Pakistan as it seeks investment and engagement from world leaders.

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