Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
Different people have different political views. Why dont you try to understand why some people do not support the so-called patriotic policies or even the need to be a part of Pakistan. There are good reasons for everything.
Pakistan is not an ethnically, regionally fair country, it never has been and it never will be. The leaders in Pakistan, the elite - both civilian and military treat Pakistan worse than the colonial Raj of Britain.
The view point of most ethnic nationalists in Pakistan is that there will never be equality in Pakistan as the elite, the dominant and powerful groups, tend to come from one belt. Compare that belt with the disadvantaged areas of Pakistan and you will understand why they want to opt out.
There is gross inequality in Pakistan and a huge gaps. None of our rulers hae made any progress inthose regions in 64 years. Pakistan itself has been only around 64 years - remember there are citizens in Pakistan who are older than the country itself. Their history goes deeper.
Show me a country where every region is equally developed. The per capita budget of Punjab is lower than all provinces.
Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
^ there are some genuine concerns of sindh and nwfp related to kala bagh dam. I was watching a documentary about a big dam which some country in central Asia built on amu darya, in a few years that started impacting the countries down stream. After a few years even the country which had built it became dry. After India started constructing dams on rivers in Kashmir, Pakistan has started getting lesser and lesser inflow of water.
Smaller dams are much safer as compared to the bigger ones.
Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
I think Punjab should be divided into 3-4 provinces and they can play whatever games they want like dumping poison in rivers, stopping growing wheat or exporting it all to foreign countries and they will have the backing of 3-4 provinces. Then they can use the same stupid argument that since more people say its correct therefore it is correct.
There's no guarantee that dividing Punjab might make most of the provinces in favour of KBD, as then Punjab will be fighting with Potohar, and Seraiki province will be fighting with Punjab for their water shares.
Besides with mianwali gone to the seraiki belt what makes you so sure that Punjab will not jump into the band wagon (with kp, balochistan and sindh) that seraiki province wants to wrest control of their share of water, and join the list of traitors?
Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
1) probably our pashtun brothers have the largest group who moved out of their base and residing all over pakistan. muqawwee123 said it right, pashtuns are the most hardworking people of Pakistan and we are proud to have them
2) yes they did, their culture of "no fear" and steadfastness is admired by everyone (and sometimes ridiculed). i do not agree with term "their interpretation of islam" Pushtuns follow what we a common man in pakistan follows. major groups according to islamic school of thoughts in pakistan are, Sunni (mostly hanafi, further subclassed into two), Ahl-e-Tashia and Ghair Muqallids (called Ahl-e-hadees in pakistan). There are Pushtuns who follow all these classes and in a very noticeable number. About their cultural influence the first thing that comes to my mind is "Naswar" which is now used by almost ever ethnicity in Pakistan (though its a bad thing), their music... rahim shah comes to my mind, there was a time when he was famous enough that even those who do not understand pashto used to listen his pashto songs
3) they are mostly dominant in Transport business all over the country, and they are the second largest group in military.
all in all, they pusthuns have representation in every group and class in pakistan, good and bad both.
Thanks Aceones! for real answers, so far, almost everyone else (may not muqawwee123) went off the topic. Just a clarification, I did not mean religion. I suppose basic tenets of Islam are the same to large extent, I meant the cultural connotations that often changes from group to group.
I am looking for more detailed apolitical answer without fear. Are there any studies done on that one can refer me to. I came across a book titled "A history of Pashtun migration, 1775-2006" by Robert Nicholes, wonder how good this book is?
Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
One of the best book on Pashtun Culture and History
“The Pathans”
550B.C.–A.D. 1957
by
OLAF CAROE
http://www.apnaorg.com/books/english/the-pathans/book.php?fldr=book
Re: Influence/Contribution of Pahstuns in rest of Pakistan
As someone who is not very familiar with Pakistan. I wonder what is the influence of Phastuns over rest of the Pakistan.
1) Have their internal migration to other provinces is large enough to create impact?2) Have they culturally influenced others regions? Ex. their interpretation of Islam or their music etc.,3) Is there any field they dominate in the country as a whole?Not intended to stoke any partisan battles here. Just honest question.Thanks
Hi i am a pashtun from KPK. Like i some one said rather than whole community, contributions of pashtuns to pakistan are mostly on individual basis. I would answer your each question.
1) the most significant internal migration of pashtuns is towards karachi, and i think they are 2nd in population after urdu speakers. The most significant impact of this would be ethnic/linguistic riots in karachi.
2) No... Pashtuns are unable to affect people across indus in terms of culture and langauge. Instead pashtuns are absorbing many elements of mainstream urdu culture. We have rich music and poetry but it is unable to find its place in mainstream pakistani music , on the other hand punjabi songs are part of mainstream pakistani music. Our ways of life and culture, termed pashtunwali would be unique and some times strange for other pakistanis. I would give one example, punjabis demand jahaiz from girl's family while in pashtun society male's family has to buy particular amount of gold in jewelary in addition to haq mahar. And boy's family has to take responsibility of all expenditures of wedding. There is not demand of jahaiz. Thats why punjabis mistaken us for wahabis and thats some pakistanis think that we sell our daughters..there are some other aspects of our culture who are opposite to other cultures of pakistan and none of them have created any impact/change in pakistan.Religion-wise pashtuns are hanafis of deobandi school of thought. While in punjab most of the muslims are of bareilvi school of thought (i dont know abt sindh and balochistan). we are strictly against mazar-parasti, pir-parasti, urs etc which are prevalent in sindh and punjab. Generally pashtuns are very practical muslims and are very active in religous activities. 80% of tabligh jamat are pashtuns and through tabligh they are preaching throughout pakistan. Some of us pashtun have become religous extremists in last two or three decades and as talibans we have huge impact on pakistan.
3) in old times pashtun's only profession was sword and fighting. Now in modern times they are struggling and are working hard to adjust in all fields of life. Due to our martial tendencies we prefer to go to army or defend homes and other buildings as watchmen. We are make good labourers because of our good physique. We are also drivers. we sucks in business but our administrative skills are good. we are also docters, engineers, professors, civil servants etc but so are rest of the pakistanis.