Who Are the Pashtuns?
The Pashtuns (also called Pathans, Pakhtuns, or Afghans) are one of the world's largest tribal peoples, numbering approximately 50-60 million across Afghanistan (15 million—the largest ethnic group at 42%) and Pakistan (30+ million—15% of the population, concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Balochistan). They speak Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language, and follow Pashtunwali—a code of honor, hospitality, and revenge that governs social life. Pashtuns have resisted every empire that entered their mountain homeland—from Alexander to the British to the Soviets. The Taliban movement emerged from Pashtun areas; understanding Pashtun society is essential to understanding Afghanistan.
Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali is the unwritten ethical code governing Pashtun life—predating Islam and coexisting with it. Core principles include: melmastia (hospitality—even to enemies, once under your roof); nanawatai (asylum—protection must be given to those who ask); badal (revenge—honor demands response to insults or violence, sometimes across generations); nang (honor—personal and family reputation); and ghayrat (courage/self-respect). This code shapes everything from conflict resolution to marriage to politics. Critics see it as perpetuating violence; defenders argue it maintains order in stateless spaces. The tension between Pashtunwali and Islamic law plays out in Taliban governance.
Tribal Organization
Pashtun society organizes through patrilineal descent—tribes (qawm), clans, and lineages tracing ancestry to common forefathers. Major tribal confederations include the Durrani (traditionally rulers) and Ghilzai (historically rivals). Each level has councils (jirga) for dispute resolution and decision-making; the loya jirga (grand assembly) makes national decisions. This segmentary structure—"I against my brother; my brother and I against my cousin; my cousin, my brother, and I against the stranger"—shapes alliances and conflicts. Colonial and national borders cut across tribal territories, complicating governance. Understanding tribal dynamics remains essential for anyone engaging with Pashtun regions.
The Taliban
The Taliban emerged from Pashtun society—specifically from religious students (taliban means "students") in Pakistani madrasas, many refugees from Soviet-era Afghanistan. The movement draws on Pashtun identity, Pashtunwali, and conservative Deobandi Islam. Its core support base is rural Pashtun. However, Taliban ≠ Pashtun: many Pashtuns oppose the Taliban; the Taliban includes some non-Pashtuns; and Pashtun culture is far richer than Taliban ideology suggests. Still, understanding the Taliban requires understanding Pashtun social structures, honor codes, and grievances. The movement's 2021 return to power in Afghanistan ensures Pashtun-Taliban relations remain globally significant.
Contemporary Pashtuns
Modern Pashtuns face extraordinary challenges. In Afghanistan, decades of war have devastated communities; Taliban rule imposes restrictions while providing security. In Pakistan, military operations in tribal areas displaced millions; the merger of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended colonial-era autonomy. Urbanization, education, and global connections transform traditional society. Pashtun nationalism (demanding recognition, sometimes separation) challenges both Pakistani and Afghan states. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement advocates for rights amid conflict. How Pashtuns navigate between tradition and modernity, tribal and national identity, and war and peace shapes their future and the region's stability.
References
- Barth, F. (1959). Political Leadership among Swat Pathans
- Edwards, D. (2002). Before Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad
- Rzehak, L. (2011). Doing Pashto: Pashtunwali as the Ideal of Honourable Behaviour