Sir: In reference to Raza Wazir’s article To Be Young and Pashtun in Pakistan, in The New York Times. His story well documents the scope of the ordeal faced by Pashtuns since the watershed incident of 9/11.They constitute major chunk of Pakistani population in all of the federating units but, regretfully, accorded the status of nationals rather than citizens entitled to full freedoms and liberties. They are profiled and attributed stereotypical labels in the public, on social media and in mainstream state-sponsored PTV and private media juggernaut. Unfortunately, Pashtuns own tribal culture, domestic flawed foreign policy and, above all, the US military misadventures for geo-political and economic orientations led to this sorry state of affairs. The role played by the Saudi Wahhabi establishment and Iran’s Shia regime for stocking sectarian tensions further polluted their religious and cultural profile. For time too long, the Pakistani state used irregulars as proxies in neighbouring countries which, in turn, proved the proverbial Frankenstein monster taking on it ruthlessly. It’s time the Pashtun community across the borders realised that the only way out lies in redefining the very ethos of religious, political and social configurations. Education, science, trade and accepting globalisation are the prerequisites for reforming this beleaguered nation. The so-called super powers must realise that Afghanistan is the grave yard of empires and must stop with experimenting with in the guise of promoting democracy and justice. Politically negotiated settlement in Afghanistan is the most viable option. The Pashtun Tahafuz (protection) Movement should make political, legal and constitutional reforms its recurrent themes. Inclusion of women and minorities must be given much-needed space. Its tone should be reconciliatory and inclusive debunking state sponsored propaganda of being anti-Pakistan and Islam. SAEED KHAN WAZIR Pakistan Published in Daily Times, March 14th 2018.