Afghan National Anthem

[pashtanajan]

I really don't like the national anthem of Afghanistan. I feel like it further divides the country by naming every single ethnic group.

Here's the anthem: Afghanistan National Anthem - YouTube

What are your thoughts on this?

[Laila]

I see it as embracing all the ethnicities under one flag

[Pisho]

I like our national anthem i think it does its job in representing everyone in Afghanistan

[IamDZJ]

if they hadn't mentioned all those provinces, there would have been a 16th civil war caused just by that. a national anthem should send chills down one's spine. i have listened to national anthems of various countries many times and over and still have felt goosebumps but afghanistan's current national anthem doesn't do that for me.

[Pisho]

if they hadn't mentioned all those provinces, there would have been a 16th civil war caused just by that. a national anthem should send chills down one's spine. i have listened to national anthems of various countries many times and over and still have felt goosebumps but afghanistan's current national anthem doesn't do that for me.

I agree with u.. But this last time karzai went to china and they did a really good job with our anthem

I wanned to find a video but i didnt see one i youtube

[Admin Khan]

PashtanaJaan, it unites the various ethnic groups under one umbrella. One can imagine the possibilities of conspiracy theories being coined that Pashai's are not Afghan nationals, or Uzbeks are not nationals,etc.

The anthem sort of affirms that no, hold up, all are nationals and together we are united. It also enforces the status of Pashto amongst all Afghans.

[pashtanajan]

PashtanaJaan, it unites the various ethnic groups under one umbrella. One can imagine the possibilities of conspiracy theories being coined that Pashai's are not Afghan nationals, or Uzbeks are not nationals,etc.

The anthem sort of affirms that no, hold up, all are nationals and together we are united. It also enforces the status of Pashto amongst all Afghans.

I agree that it the aim of the anthem is to bring all the various ethnic groups under one umbrella, but I believe effect it has on people's sub-conscious level would be the complete opposite. It's like a subtle device to remind people of their differences rather than similarities. Of course, that's just my take on it. I think an anthem should be based on similarities and things that unite the people of a country rather than the differences in a country.

[Admin Khan]

I agree that it the aim of the anthem is to bring all the various ethnic groups under one umbrella, but I believe effect it has on people's sub-conscious level would be the complete opposite. It's like a subtle device to remind people of their differences rather than similarities. Of course, that's just my take on it. I think an anthem should be based on similarities and things that unite the people of a country rather than the differences in a country.

I agree, but I guess it has to do more with the context of the present situation. Presently, there are many foreign players trying to dissect the nation into various nation states. A similar ploy is strategically designed for Pakistan. Now I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but I do feel like the aforementioned makes logical sense for some nearby entities. The anthem, in a sense, reminds the Afghan nationals that together we are one Afghan nation state.

[pashtanajan]

I agree, but I guess it has to do more with the context of the present situation. Presently, there are many foreign players trying to dissect the nation into various nation states. A similar ploy is strategically designed for Pakistan. Now I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but I do feel like the aforementioned makes logical sense for some nearby entities. The anthem, in a sense, reminds the Afghan nationals that together we are one Afghan nation state.

Yes, well I hope that is how it influences most individuals. I feel like in the past few years the tension between the various ethnicities has mounted up even more than before and this anthem is a huge flag right now that is signalling the racial tension present in Afghanistan right now. As the Brits used to do—Divide and Conquer.

[Admin Khan]

Yes, well I hope that is how it influences most individuals. I feel like in the past few years the tension between the various ethnicities has mounted up even more than before and this anthem is a huge flag right now that is signalling the racial tension present in Afghanistan right now. As the Brits used to do—Divide and Conquer.

I think the tensions between ethnic groups has decreased, compared to the Taliban era where most felt like it was a straight-up Pashtun rule(even though the Taliban had many non-Pashtuns amongst them), where Dari had little to no status in the nation. Kandahar was once again the capital, and everybody was almost 'forced' to speak Pashto, to get connections amidst the Taliban elite(they almost all spoke Pashto) Now, things seem to be calming down a bit, and I certainly feel that ethnic groups are more tolerant to each other, since both are victims of the so called 'collateral damage'. I agree that there are obviously causes of demonization, where victims feel like they are victims of exoneration, but on the whole, the relations seem to have improved.

[pashtanajan]

I think the tensions between ethnic groups has decreased, compared to the Taliban era where most felt like it was a straight-up Pashtun rule(even though the Taliban had many non-Pashtuns amongst them), where Dari had little to no status in the nation. Kandahar was once again the capital, and everybody was almost 'forced' to speak Pashto, to get connections amidst the Taliban elite(they almost all spoke Pashto) Now, things seem to be calming down a bit, and I certainly feel that ethnic groups are more tolerant to each other, since both are victims of the so called 'collateral damage'. I agree that there are obviously causes of demonization, where victims feel like they are victims of exoneration, but on the whole, the relations seem to have improved.

These days, however it seems that Pashtuns are 'forced' to speak Dari to get anywhere far in Afghanistan. The roles seem to be reversed. They are teased in big cities if they can't speak Dari and are seen as dimwitted. Even many Pashtuns are adapting Dari as their language, and leaving behind Pashto because they see it as useless because of their environment. Many people don't speak Pashto, and a lot of the new children in my family don't understand a word of it. There's a rise of Pashtuns adopting Dari because of Pashto's underrepresentation in Afghanistan.

[Khostai]

Why do over 50 percent of Afghanistan speak Dari (Persian) as their mother tongue in Afghanistan?

I know that most Afghans (Pashtuns, Baloch, Tajiks) are all Iranic peoples and share cultural, historical and ethnic ties (confirmed by DNA) with Persians but are Pashtuns not objecting to the Iranian influence?

Do Pashtuns in Pashtun areas in Pakistan speak Dari as well? No right?

And how many genuine Arabs are there in Afghanistan? I always read that there lived 50.000 Arabs at the highest back in time. Today I guess this number is even smaller? Am I correct?

And what about the Hazaras? Are they not originally Turko-Mongolians? Have they mixed with other ethnic groups in Afghanistan?

Becuase there are 50% non-PAshtuns in Afghanistan. I know a lot say that pashtuns are 60%, but that can't be true, like you said your self 50% or even more speak Dari, and that can never be the case if Pashtuns are 60%.
And pashtuns leaders failed to establish Pashto as a strong national language. Almost all the kings used Dari, thats why Dari is so widespread and have stronger influence than Pashto, and all old books of science and laws were written in arabic or Dari. But its not that helpless, still alot of peopel can understand Pashto and its becoming more popular in time.

Persian culture is not Iranian. The language and culture exsisted in what is now Afghanistan for tousand of years.

Pashtuns in Pakistan speak Urdu whith mix of English.

I have no idea, I think really few.

Hazar have mixed, whith Pahstuns and Tajiks, but there are still who didn't mixed whith anyone. There origin is not really clear but popular belive is that they are Mongolian. Uzbacks are turk-mongolian I think.

[Admin Khan]

Al Arab,
Pashtuns and Tajiks look very similar. I have plenty of Tajik friends, and I personally can't tell the difference.

[JattApache]

The afghan national anthem is beautiful, Greetings

[Admin Khan]

Thank you Admin-Khan.

That's what I thought and that's my impression when lookin at Tajiks and Pashtuns.

That's also why I can't believe the conflicts between such close people? You look the same, you speak an Iranic language, you are Iranic peoples and you have intermarried and live close to each other for centuries. Correct me if I am wrong on the latter part.

You even share the same religion? Are most not Hanafi's in Afghanistan and Tajikstan?

I can't believe this.

But I guess it's nothing new. In Iraq for example, as you might know, there are and have been for a long time conflicts between the Sunni and Shi'ah Arabs. Both are Arab, speak Arabic (similar dialect even and in most cases the same), share tribal relations etc.

The only differences was that many Arab tribes in modern-day Iraq were converted in the last centuries from Sunni Islam to Shi'ah Islam. That's just 200-300 years ago.

But I can't think of more close peoples than Pashtuns and Tajiks being in conclict in recent history?

If you look from the outside do you then not agree that it is strange? I know money, power, tribalism/ethnitism (or what that word is called in English) all play a role even among the same people but this is quite unusual.

I would more understan problems between let's say Pashtuns and Hazaras/Uzbeks/Turkmens.

The problem stems with foreign spy agencies using each ethnic group as their tool for their strategic presence. My encounter with Tajiks, Punjabis, have been nothing short but of amazing. The ground realities differ greatly from what the media would like us to believe. It's ironic, cause nearly every single Tajik I know speaks Pashto fluently with me.