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The Pashtun (also Pushtun, Pakhtun, or ethnic Afghan; in
referring to the period of the British Raj or earlier, sometimes
Pathan) are an ethnic/religious group of people living primarily in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India who follow Pashtunwali. The Pashtuns are the world's
largest patriarchal tribal group in existence. The total population of the group is estimated at 42,000,000
History
The Pashto culture can date back as far as Zoroastrian times. Pashtuns are
the predominant ethnic group in Afghanistan and the region of Pakistan known to the Pashtuns as "Pashtoonistan", or the North
West Frontier Province (NWFP). There are many conflicting theories of the origins of the Pashtun tribe. Some anthropologists
claim that Pashtuns are of Aryan descent, because they have Caucasian physical characteristics and because Pashto is an Indo-European language.
The word for the language itself, Pashto or Pashtun, was derived from the word Afghan-- the two
were historically synonymous. Because of this etymology, the Pashtuns are often referred to as "ethnic Afghans".
In fact, just as Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan and other countries were named for their
historical majority ethnic group, by following the etymology of the word Pashtun it can be said that Afghanistan was
also named after its largest ethnic majority.
The Pashtuns are intimately tied up with the history of modern-era Afghanistan. The country's founder, Ahmad Shah Durrani, was
a Pashtun. He founded the country, as we know it today, in 1747 and the Pashtuns would rule it for the next 200 years.
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 an 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. However, Pashtun society
is also marked by its matriarchal tendencies. Folktales involving reverence
for Pashtun mothers and matriarchs are common and are passed down from parent to child, as most Pashtun heritage, through a rich
oral tradition.
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:
External links
It should be noted that the links supplied from Mr Dangoor at dangoor.com are confusing the issue of "The Twelwe Tribes of
Israel" versus "The Ten Lost Tribes" versus the tribes *not* lost (that would be Jews.)
Still interesting reading though.
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