Pakhtuns

Arts & Culture Culture, Arts, Literature & Linguistics
1

Since the recent WANA operations by the Pakistani army there has been quite a lot of controversy…

Leaving aside some other issues, what pissed me off the most was the attitude of some of the pakhtoons on this board!

First of all, I am myself a pakhtun (yosufzai) hailing from Mardan region. Furthermore, my great grandparent was the khan of Ismailia controlling a huge area during the time of the British. He passed away fighting the British when they tried to take over his lands.

Having told my families history, I like to share my opinion on this whole issue.

I do accept & agree to the opinion that pakhtoons are not treated at par with the majority of Pakistanis (e.g. Punjabis). As in, racism exists in Pakistan when it comes to jobs and economic opportunity but that applies equally to the other miniorities as well.

However, we can’t and shouldn’t lay the blame entirely on the above assertion. I see, major faults lying within us, our stubbornness, our rough attitude, negative affinity to education, denying of equal rights to women and especially **literal, often hypocritical, and non-rational **interpretation of Islam. Of course, there are exceptions and there is a small minority of Pakhtuns who have risen over this but generally this is the condition of the masses.

The rest of Pakistanis also are to a lesser degree the same but when it comes to us (pukhtoons) we love to exhibit these qualities better than any other ethnic group in Pakistan!

Points of contention:

*“Pakhtuns are all the same (whether in Pakistan or Afghanistan) and that the Afghani pakhtuns are bending over backwards to accept us as there brethren” *

Having lived in different parts of the world and coming in contact with Afghani Pukhtoons. Almost every time when you mention that you are from Pakistan and a pakhtun. They say to your face that “you guys are not really pukhtoon” and they try their best to be hostile to you. Leaving aside how the Afghani pukhtoon treat their Pakistani counterparts. Lets talk history, most pakhtuns who are now part of Pakistan were in these lands for centuries. As such, they always lived in the lands that are now in Pakistan. Pakistani pukhtoon are as much pakhtuns as these supposeably “real” afghan pukhtoons. There is no brotherhood, afghan pukhtoons are backward hoodlums looking for trade in drugs and arms and nothing more. They ruined NWFP when they came in running from the soviets, bringing their gun culture and drugs to Pakistan.

… to be continued

2

Great Man, Khudai De Neka Wabakha, i am proud of him.

der takra yeah. :nono4:

Now you are saying that our own Pashtun/Afghans turned Peshawar into what its today, and you are saying that we Pashtuns are different than our Pashtuns/Afghans. Let me make it clear, what you have said is completely wrong, the gun culture was not brought up by anyone, it was our own culture which also extended to Pashtunistan (though originates from the Tribal Areas).

I personally can’t make any obvious difference among ourselves, be it a Herati Pashtun, or Balkhi or Peshawari, Quettayee or Kandahari, for me they are all the same. I love every Pashtun, if soemone is a Pashtun/Afghan then there is no need to know what Tribe he is from, and you might know who this quote is said by.

Khudai khabar taso paa tsa hawao ke yeai, paa akhpal manzo ke faraq rawastolo ta moo sanga zra kegey.

Pa Dranakht

Aryan

3

i posted this in another thread too, but this is Pashtun thread there for i am doing here as well.

*The Pashtuns *

The Pashtun (also Pushtun, Pakhtun, or ethnic Afghan) are an ethnic/religious group of people living primarily in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India who follow Pashtunwali. The Pashtuns are the world's largest partriarchal tribal group in existance.

The Pashtun people primarily speak Pashto, also known as Afghan.

The word Afghan was originally a synonym for Pashtun, and it is still the use of the word in many parts of Afghanistan and the world. Because of this etymology, the Pashtuns are often referred to as "ethnic Afghans".

By extension, ethnic Uzbeks, Hazaras, Punjabies, Turkmens, Sindhies, Kalash, Nuristani, Tajiks, Cantonese, Balochi, Bwities, and others would therefore not be ethnic Afghans, though they may in fact be credible and honorable Afghan citizens of Afghanistan.

Just as Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan and other countries were named for their historical majority ethnic group, so was Afghanistan.

The total population of the group is estimated at 35,000,000

History
The Pashtun people are considered by some to be the descendent core of the ancient Israelites (Bnai israel) who came to Khorasan and Ghor in the 8th century BC. However, it is also possible that they originated in the area of Persia. Since that time they have mixed with numerous other tribes including Aryan, Turk, Greek and others.

Pashtun kings and leaders have many times in the past ruled over some of the areas now comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

The British identified the Pashtuns as one of the martial races of the Indian Subcontinent and usually referred to them as Pathans. Most consider this terminology to be highly highly offensive.

The 19th century partition of Afghan lands by the British remains a point of contention for Pashtun leaders with the West up to today.

Afghan governments, from the Durrani Empire to the Taliban to Hamid Karzai, the current President of Afghanistan, have traditionally been dominated by Pashtuns.

Traditionally, Pashtuns have cooperated well with other ethnic groups in Afghanistan and most Pashtuns in Afghanistan are bi or trilingual: speaking Persian or Tajik in addition to Afghan.

Culture
Throughout Pashtun history the warrior has been the most revered member of society. The term 'Pakhto' or 'Pashto' from which they derive their name is not merely the name of their language, but the name of a honour code and religion. The main tenets of 'Pakhto' or formally known as Pashtunwali are:
Hospitality and asylum to all guests seeking help.
Justice: Ancient Israelite Moses' Law, Tooth for a Tooth.
Defense of 'Zan, Zar and Zameen' i.e Women/Family, Treasury and Property.
Personal Independence. Pashtuns are fiercely independent and there is a lot of internal competition.

Most decisions in tribal life are made by a 'Jirga' or 'Senate' of elected elders and wise men.

Although the Pashtun people are extremely protective of their womenfolk from prying 'foreign' eyes, in the home women are undeniably in-charge and society is very matriarchal. All Pashtun men are extremely close to their mothers and indeed they are encouraged to espouse the virtues of a chivalrous warrior by their mothers.

Pashtun heritage and Pashtunwali is transmitted through an oral tradition passed down from parents to children. For example mothers often tell their children that a Pashtun boy was once asked to get his mother a glass of water while she lay in bed. On his return his mother had fallen asleep so the boy stayed awake all night waiting for her to wake up so that he could give her the glass of water. He did not want to disturb her by waking her up.

Mothers are generally very tough on their male children when it comes to being well-mannered.

Institutions
The Pashtuns are predominantly a tribal people, however, increasing numbers now dwell in cities and urban settlements. Many still identify themselves with various clans.

Major Pashtun tribes include:

Afridi
Bangash
Barakzai
Khattak
Abdali
Ghilzai
Lodhi
Zadran
Momand
Masud
Mangal
Marwat
Niazi
Orakzai
Wazir
Shinwari
Kakar
Mohamedzai
Yousafzai

4

I am a Niazi a "PunnuKhale" and am proud to be called a Pukhtun but i must aggree with Zeeshan that after living in England and seeing the world i have found that even though we are Pushtuns and we are proud of our history and heritage.

But we are pakistanis first, afghans regard us with contempt. And to me Pakistan Comes first!

Pakistan Zindabad!

5

Zeeshan:

Dude, what did induce you to come up with this fib?

6

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by shawaiz: *
Zeeshan:

Dude, what did induce you to come up with this fib?
[/QUOTE]

I am not sure what you are trying to say here?

7

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by The_Jackal: *
I am a Niazi a "PunnuKhale" and am proud to be called a Pukhtun but i must aggree with Zeeshan that after living in England and seeing the world i have found that even though we are Pushtuns and we are proud of our history and heritage.

But we are pakistanis first, afghans regard us with contempt. And to me Pakistan Comes first!

Pakistan Zindabad!
[/QUOTE]

Absolutely!

Here is an interesting quote for those of us who want to stick to Pashtunwali no matter what the cause!

*
Prophet Muhammad said, "He is not one of us who proclaims the cause of tribal partisanship" When asked, what is "tribal partisanship," he answered, "[It means] your helping your own people in an unjust cause." [1]*

Reference: Muhammad Asad, The principles of state and government in Islam (Gibraltar: Dar Al-Andalus, 1993). ***

8

Are you Afghani or Pakistani? (Obviously geographical you are from one or the other)

If you are Pakistani pukhtoon compare 1970’s Peshawar with post Afghan refugee Peshawar. You will see how the influx of these Afghans reduced Peshawar to a dirty, congested town that it is now.

Its true that we have had a gun culture for generations but there is a difference between carrying a gun for personal use vs. carrying Kalashnikovs to mow down 10s of people over drugs!

As for your love of every single pukhtoon … I am telling you that I have personal experiences of Afghan pukhtoons hating on us!

9

Hes a lconfused case. He thinks Peshawar lies in Afghanistan. :hehe:

10

I am a Pakhtun (YousafZai) and my great grand father was from Ghazni (Afghanistan). Then my grandfather migrated to India and from there we migrated to Pakistan. However, I am proud of being a Muslim first and thats it!

After being a Muslim national, I am from the land of Pakistan and then a Pakhtun. I love my country Pakistan because it is the only country in the world created in the name of Islam! (Pakistan Zindabad)

What matters most to me is Muslim brotherhood. An Arab, an Afghani, a Chinese or an Indian is more dear to me as a Muslim than my own Pakhtun brethren. What is the criteria for all this? I believe that its faith or Islam or taqwa.

Nationalism has ripped us apart. We are all followers of one God, and have One Quran and our Leader with the perfect character and example is Muhammad :saw:. Even with all that is going on in the world against us we should be ashamed that we are still lost in petty nationalism. Shame on all who are always proud of their nationalisms!

At the times of the Prophet :saw: some Sahabas were not Arabs, e.g Salman Farsi (Farsi), Suhaib Al-Roomi (Roman), Bilal Habashi (Ethiopian). Why were the Muslims at the peak in all fields? Did you ever think how two super powers fell in fron t of the rising Islam? Because they did not ever think of nationalism and were united Muslims following Islam in its true spirit and in its entirety. We are all children of Adam and Islam unites us.

Lastly, what were pakhtuns before Islam, what were Arabs before Islam? What were Persians before Islam? Pick up any history book and you will find out how low they were! Women had no position in life, they were the biggest jahils on earth. So what we are today is because of what Islam brought us. We lost it again and we are being disgraced everywhere!

May Allah unite us all!

I am very proud of being a Muslim and thats what matters most to me!

11

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zeeshan: *

Are you Afghani or Pakistani? (Obviously geographical you are from one or the other)

If you are Pakistani pukhtoon compare 1970's Peshawar with post Afghan refugee Peshawar. You will see how the influx of these Afghans reduced Peshawar to a dirty, congested town that it is now.

Its true that we have had a gun culture for generations but there is a difference between carrying a gun for personal use vs. carrying Kalashnikovs to mow down 10s of people over drugs!

As for your love of every single pukhtoon ... I am telling you that I have personal experiences of Afghan pukhtoons hating on us!
[/QUOTE]

I have graduated from a University in which there were 11 Afghans in my class alone. The rest were, Egyptinas, Sudanese, Malaysians, Saudis and Somalis besides Bosnian and Tajik. We never felt we were different. We prayed togther, no hatred or anything whatsoever. They do not hate us. All hatred comes from lack of understanding of Islam and stupidity.

I have always had the best experiance with everyone I have met no matter from where (Alhamdulilah). Its the way you deal with others. Even if somebody hates you , give him love and it will make him feel ashamed. Instead of hating others, lets for a while try to join hearts and be positive in our attitudes.

12

Re: Pakhtuns

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zeeshan: *
Since the recent WANA operations by the Pakistani army there has been quite a lot of controversy...

Leaving aside some other issues, what pissed me off the most was the attitude of some of the pakhtoons on this board!

First of all, I am myself a pakhtun (yosufzai) hailing from Mardan region. Furthermore, my great grandparent was the khan of Ismailia controlling a huge area during the time of the British. He passed away fighting the British when they tried to take over his lands.

Having told my families history, I like to share my opinion on this whole issue.

I do accept & agree to the opinion that pakhtoons are not treated at par with the majority of Pakistanis (e.g. Punjabis). As in, racism exists in Pakistan when it comes to jobs and economic opportunity but that applies equally to the other miniorities as well.

However, we can't and shouldn’t lay the blame entirely on the above assertion. I see, major faults lying within us, our stubbornness, our rough attitude, negative affinity to education, denying of equal rights to women and especially **literal, often hypocritical, and non-rational **interpretation of Islam. Of course, there are exceptions and there is a small minority of Pakhtuns who have risen over this but generally this is the condition of the masses.

The rest of Pakistanis also are to a lesser degree the same but when it comes to us (pukhtoons) we love to exhibit these qualities better than any other ethnic group in Pakistan!

Points of contention:

*"Pakhtuns are all the same (whether in Pakistan or Afghanistan) and that the Afghani pakhtuns are bending over backwards to accept us as there brethren" *

Having lived in different parts of the world and coming in contact with Afghani Pukhtoons. Almost every time when you mention that you are from Pakistan and a pakhtun. They say to your face that “you guys are not really pukhtoon” and they try their best to be hostile to you. Leaving aside how the Afghani pukhtoon treat their Pakistani counterparts. Lets talk history, most pakhtuns who are now part of Pakistan were in these lands for centuries. As such, they always lived in the lands that are now in Pakistan. Pakistani pukhtoon are as much pakhtuns as these supposeably “real” afghan pukhtoons. There is no brotherhood, afghan pukhtoons are backward hoodlums looking for trade in drugs and arms and nothing more. They ruined NWFP when they came in running from the soviets, bringing their gun culture and drugs to Pakistan.

… to be continued
[/QUOTE]

well said most of it :) iM an Afridi Pakhtun and proud to be a pakhtun and a PAKISTANI

13

JUst in case some one skipped this post…i agree with u islamabad…

14

80% of gupshup is pakhtun now?

15

[QUOTE]
Are you Afghani or Pakistani? (Obviously geographical you are from one or the other)
[/QUOTE]

i am a Peshawari Pashtun/Afghan, though i never view myself a Pakistani, cuz Pakistan has not given us anything. I am Muslim first and Afghan/Pashtun second. i know most of you won't agree with me, however this is my personal feelings, my dad told me God has said that, FIRSTLY YOU SHOULD TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN TRIBE HAPPY AND PROSPER THAN DO THE SAME WITH OTHER MUSLIM BROTHERS, and it's not a SIN helping out my people, because they are the first to be helped and then move onto the others.

[QUOTE]
I am telling you that I have personal experiences of Afghan pukhtoons hating on us!
[/QUOTE]

this is all you could come up with, sounds sooooo imature, why call them AFGHANi Pashtuns, why not call them by a specific name, either Pashtun or Afghan. I have to admit now, that only almighty God can teach (Pashtuns) us the right path.

And i am really not gona say anything on what you Pashtuns say, whether you call yourself a Pakistani or not, does not affect my personal feelings. Besides i am not against Pakistan, i just want a country of my own, i want to be living among my bretherns in our own governing society.

And yes i do want to UNITE with Pakistan Muslims only when my own country is created and is developed to some standards, then i guess that would be a good step in the name of ISLAM almighty.

My dads Tribe is GHILZAI (which makes me a Ghilzai too) , though my mum is WAZIRI, so in this case dont take myself as a GHILZAI, i only preffere to be called a simple AFGHAN/PASHTUN. As SHER SHAH SURI said, "Che Pashtun Wee, No Biya Yee Tapos Makra Che Dey Kamey Qabiley Dai".

But for now, i could only call myself a MUSLIM 1st and Afghan/Pashtun 2nd.

Long Live Islam, Afghan/Pashtun/Pashtunwali!

16

Too bad youre alone in your campaign :hehe: So when will you declare Sydney as part of Pakhtunistan?

17

Kha te Pakhtun ye? Drra Kha khabara da ashna, ra za che Pakhto ke yu se takke badal kro yu bal sara.

Cheray kha staso da Yousafzai tarekh wagoray, nu staso ba da poey shaee che de pa Yousafzai tarekh, sajra, oh de Yousafzai qoom zan awal Afghan gharee, bya Pakhtun. Da pa de che Yousafzai qoom de asliyat Afghan weena da, Yousafzai har kala zan ta Afghan waye bya zan la Pakhtun waye. Che kala pa Pakhtun pa noom Khushal Khan Baba da Yousafzai ta awaz warkral che khapal takat, da khapal qoomoona da Pakhtun pa namay ke shareek kree, da Yousafzai na wakra. Kho che kala da Afghan pa noom ke Ahmed Shah Baba da Yousafzai ta hamdagha payam wrakral nu toll de Ahmed Shah Baba Afghan millat oh lakhkar shareek sho. De Yousafzai koor de awal pa Afghanistan da pa de che agho Afghanistan na raghalee wo. Kha che kala Afridi zan ta Pakhtun waye oh Afghan na, bya wa khabara, che kala Bangash zan ta Pakhtun waye oh Afghan na, nu bya wa khabara, che kala Shinwari zan ta Pakhtun waye oh Afghan na, nu bya wa khabara, pa de che pa tarekh de do koor pa Pakhtunkhwa ke da oh awal da Pakhtuneh de, bya Afghanan de. Kho che kala Yousafzai zan ta Pakhtun waye oh Afghan na nu bya wa khabara na da, pa tareek oh pa asliyat manday toll Yousafzai awal zan la Afghan waye bya Pakhtun.

Yousafzai are considered Eastern Afghans, they come from the lineage of Kharshbun or Krishyun, one of the Afghan forefathers. Historically they are “Afghan” both ethnically and if one might put it, sons of the Afghan soil.

The reason I have stated the above in Pashto is because I want to make sure I am dealing with a Pakhtun rather then a “Pathan”.

I don’t know how much you know about the politics of that region but the unification of the Pakhtuns from both sides is/was not only the dream of Afghanistans Pakhtun but also the dream of many Pakhtuns from Pakistan. There were Mullahs and Fakirs that wanted all Pakhtuns to unite, and of course the legendary Abudal Ghaffar Khan, a Mohammadzai Pakhtun. I do admit to the fact that there are some Afghan Pakhtuns that won’t look in eye of a Pakhtun from across the border as their own, majority of them are those who have ran away from Afghanistan during the time when they were needed the most. Such Afghans are called “dog washers” by their own country men. Thats what they did when the ran away to the west, washed dogs.

But on the other side, we as Pakhtuns of Pakhtunwkhwa are not better; we have treated and still treat many of the Afghan refuges as strangers and foreigners. We call them “Kabalay” regardless if they are from Kabul or not, we treat them like Farsiwan, and mock their way of speaking Pakhto, little do we know that just like their Pakhto has been polluted by Farsi, ours have been also polluted by Urdu. Many times you will see a Pakhtun from Pakhtunkhwa beat, harass or mistreat an Afghan because they are “Kabalay” or “Ghulam jam”.

Now the gun culture, all the guns in Afghanistan were brought in to Afghanistan from our side of the border that were delivered by America to Pakistan and then the ISI drove them into Afghanistan on top of donkeys and camels. The gun culture in Dara Adam Khel and Tirrah existed long before the war of Afghanistan with the Soviets, because of the British Wars. The gun factories in those areas were made by two Punjabi sobaidars who took the struggle against the British Raj from the mountains of Khyber hand in hand with the Pakhtun tribes. They thought the tribes how to make the guns, and gun powder. Ask any Afridi, or Bannuwal, they’ll tell you. Now drugs, watch the British documentry film "Traffik".

Let’s put the stereotypes aside shall we now? ;- )

Also, almost all the people of Multan are Afghan by blood. A lot of them are the sons of Sher Shah.

18

Greatly said Sultan Suri Gula, now you know what i am talking about.

Sultana, pa dey khabara de saye poi nashwum, tol Pukhtana awal Afghan de biye Pakhtuna zaka che doi awal dee Afghan pa nom yodedal. Aw zmo pa nazar Bangash, Afridi, Shinwari aw da tol nori qabiley yoo dey, da dey da matlab nadai che ka doi pa wosenaiyo ilako ke dey doi emong na badal dey, doi awal ham aw wos ham Afghanon dey, emonga yewa ahaba doo, aw yoo riwanj mo dai no zaka monga tel bayad awal da Afghan pa nom yod sho aw biye de Pashtun, zaka aee Afghan matlab ham Pashtun dai pa asaliat kee.
Ka mong kee farq ai noo Khushall Baba boo zonta Afghan naayaloo.
da sher baa moo aoredalai wee.

DA AFGHAN PA NANG MAY OTARARA TORA
NAGYALAI DA ZAMANEY KHUSHAL KHATAK YAM

aw da Ahmad Baba sher dasey dai…

DA DEHLI TAKHT HERAWOMA CHE RAYAD KRAM
ZMA DA KHKULEY PAKHTUNKHWA DA GHRO SARONA

aw yaw bal sher dasey dai…

LA AMO NA TAR BOLANA PASHTUNKHWA DA
PUSHTANA PA KEE OSEGEY DA KHAWRA DE BABA DA

here they reffere to the whole region from Abaseen (Indus River) to Amu (Oxus River) as PakhtunKhwa, the pure land of Afghans/Pashtuns.

and also i should tell you the birthplace of Afghan/Pashtun race, we originate from the city of BALKH, north PashtunKhwa (Afghanistan).

Intoduction To The Great Ahmad Shah Abdali

english version of his poem about his homeland…

Bloody chests are full of land-love-affair Youths sacrifice heads, and call it only fair.
Relief comes to me when I come to you Anxiety snakes in my heart when I am far from-you.
No matter the increase in lands I capture It’s the beauty of your gardens I’ll never forget.
Discard I the magnificent throne of Delhi When I remember the summits of Afghan/Pashtun mountains.
The legacy of Hamid and Farid times returns When I run victorious all around.
Ahmad Shah will not forget your legacy Even if he conquers the world in whole.
If the universe comes into either hand I’ll prefer your bare and naked deserts.

19

Aryan, toll Pakhtuneh Afghan de, kho Awal Pakhtuneh de bya Afghan de. Da Afghan nama Pakhtun la raghlay wa, Awal Pakhtun wo bya Afghan sho. Da Afghan noom sirf da zar (1000) kaal omaar da, da Pakhtun noom penz zara (5000) kala omaar da.

Poey she? Awal Pakhtun wo, bya Afghan.

20

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Sultan Suri: *
Che kala pa Pakhtun pa noom Khushal Khan Baba da Yousafzai ta awaz warkral che khapal takat, da khapal qoomoona da Pakhtun pa namay ke shareek kree, da Yousafzai na wakra. Kho che kala da Afghan pa noom ke Ahmed Shah Baba da Yousafzai ta hamdagha payam wrakral nu toll de Ahmed Shah Baba Afghan millat oh lakhkar shareek sho.

[/QUOTE]

I dont understand this part ... can you clarify?