Time to Talk about the Hazaras

[RevolutionThroughReason]

That´s the people´s choice. Go to Herat, Mazar or Parwan or even to Kabul and see people are happy they have their warlords. These warlords are the defender of them against evil Taliban and Pakistan and they will remain their defender.

oh really? if it's the people's choice can they tell the warlords to step down from power and have someone else as a leader? If yes, then that's great. But if not, then it means people are just afraid, not that people like their warlords. LOL

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Personally, I feel as if the Hazara vs Pashtun conflict has been blown way out of proportion. Sure problems exist, but I certainly feel as if neighboring countries have milked the issue for their own strategic interests. They very well know that by not dropping it, it will be detrimental to Afghan unity and peace. I can speak on behalf of Kandahar, and proudly claim that Hazaras are highly respected, and viewed as an essential & integral part of the nation. Discrimination in all forms or flavors is wrong, an ethnic group of 50 million should not be held hostage for the crimes of a few mickey-mouse war lords. If I was an Afghan national, I'd vote for Ramzan Bashardost.

My reference was more to the forum discussion that centers around the Taliban and the idea that somehow Pashtuns that don't support the Karzai government need to own back and forth crimes between groups like Wahdat and the Taliban. The historical reference point was to show that this is a sordid affair that existed before Mullah Omar was even born or before Karzai even came onto the scene. Neither of these men own the deaths.

I also think that Graveyard's personal story of flight from Kabul is a very poignant one that shows it is an issue within the country itself and was an issue in the instability time period of Najib's regime. The video he provided is also a reflection of this phenomena. As he also noted, this does not absolve Pashtuns from their own wrongs and he made it clear that the volley sayyaf and the other warlord were doing probably caused innocent Hazara deaths.

We both know that in the Western media, and as referenced in that Al Jazeera broad cast, the Hazara victimhood is consistently a theme. Kite Runner only magnified that view without providing the supporting historical details.

I think its a problem when Major Nidal Ali of the Pakistan Army, a Hazara superstar, says that Pashtun militants (he didnt say Taliban - he said Pashtun) killed these Hazaras and then has some guy named Nick in a NYC apartment call for Western intervention to deal with a hundreds year long issue.

The key here is the Pashtuns and everyone else needs to examine conflicts and not just accept the prevailing narrative to suit someone else's purpose.

The same goes for when we hear about Koney 2012 or anything broad cast to us. we need to know intracacies.

[Talal]

I think its a problem when Major Nidal Ali of the Pakistan Army, a Hazara superstar, says that Pashtun militants (he didnt say Taliban - he said Pashtun) killed these Hazaras

where's this barakzai ?

[BarakzaiAbdali]

where's this barakzai ?

Hey talal, its in the first post with the Al Jazeera link. Its a talk show wherein 3 Pakistani Hazaras (though I think Ahmad Shujda is Afghan national actually) basically talk about Hazara genocide and bringing the case before Ifthikhaar Chaudry. Once again they are not incorrect about the tit for tat deaths that occur but in general no one is available to discuss the detailed history of the region and Wahdat.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Personally, I feel as if the Hazara vs Pashtun conflict has been blown way out of proportion. Sure problems exist, but I certainly feel as if neighboring countries have milked the issue for their own strategic interests. They very well know that by not dropping it, it will be detrimental to Afghan unity and peace. I can speak on behalf of Kandahar, and proudly claim that Hazaras are highly respected, and viewed as an essential & integral part of the nation. Discrimination in all forms or flavors is wrong, and so an ethnic group of 50 million should not be held hostage for the crimes of a few mickey-mouse warlords. If I was an Afghan national, I'd vote for Ramzan Bashardost, hands down.

The other thing is I hardly think this is one that can go and be pinned on Pakistan. Pakistan has its own negative press emanating from this event and if anything would want to deflate the story and morale. Remember, Kite Runner was written by Hosseini, not a Pakistani national. Iran may very well have some role to play.

[Khostai]

Hazara are hard working peopel and are mostly nice I don't think Nokia is a Hazara he is a Tajik or an Uzback they are mostly are against Pashtuns, they hate us becuase for a long time Pashtuns had the power in Afghanistan and they can't handel that becuase they see them selfs as a supirior race. Even now when the US and NATO are helping them still Pashtuns are in every feeld and the president is still a Pashtun, that frustrate them really hard, they go almost crazy when they see a succesful Pashtun who is smart and powerfull...

[khushal]

It all started when a pashtun uprising killed the grandson of Ghengis on the battle field. This killing started the massacre of pashtuns by a huge Mongol army and the tit for tat has continued for almost a thousand years. The Wests demonization of pashtuns have been relentless from the beginning. This demonization has been the root cause of Americas failure in Afghanistan. American policy makers are so incompetent that they failed to see that pashtuns have common interests with very powerful forces that are beyond Americas grasp.

As far as interests in the region are concerned and putting your enemies in check, America has more in common with pashtuns than they do with the NA or Hazaras. Working with the Taliban was a more viable option from the beginning than challenging them with force. Its not a miscalculation that can be corrected but a disaster that will have consequences for americas interest in the region. Wise men have been preaching how dangerous arrogance is for thousands of years and people still arent getting it.

[یاسمینه]

Barakzai Abdali, thank you for your comprehensive answer showing the background of the conflict from different angles.
I know that now Kuchi-Hazara disputes are mainly land disputes. Government has formed few commisions on the Kuchi - Hazara coflict but none of them was effective enough to find prmanent solution. Karzai also directed the Ministry of Agriculture to distribute lands among Kuchis so they could settle but so far this plan haven't worked out.
I know about mutual accusation - azara accuse Kuchi for association with Taliban and Pakistan, that Kuchi were involved in drug money especially in during the Taliban times. Kuchi accuse Hazara for contacts with Iran, taking money and armament fom Iran... endless list.

Hazara are very united, they have many media outlets. Almost all of their kids go to to school, boys and girls. Thank to the Ministry of Higher Education (Hazara misniser) almost 50% of all scholarships are given to Hazara students. They are willing to learn.


Some time ago I posted an paper written by a Polish professor about social relations and tribalism is Afghanistan. When you have time, could you read it? I would like to know your opinion. This paper is here http://www.pashtunforums.com/showthread.php?t=22137

[MostafaM]

The Hazaras?

As far as I am concerned, I would like to introduce them to the Ambassador of Mongolia and organize their repatriation.

[bactrianeagle]

All I know is that they play off Tajik against Pashtuns.

[Tjanaparh]

I think Hazara have contact to Mongolia dear Mostafa. Mongolian nations have some unions organizations and if I am not wrong Hazara did participate there too(including also Mongols, Buryats, Khalmygs, Oirat-Mogols)

[Pisho]

there are plenty of hasaras in helmand... the normal hazaras are cool.. there are some here i know a few hazaras they speak pashto at home..
i think the hazaras that have a problem can just move on and settle somewhere where they are happy lol

[Tjanaparh]

The Hazara I met in Europe, were quiet nice people, they were mostly in good relations with Pashtuns and Tajiks.

[Kushan Prince]

Hazaras? Eh, not really fond of them but I don't hate them either. I just don't like what their doing to peaceful kuchis by forcing them out whO settle near them.

[randolph85]

props to them for fighting the massoud supporters in kabul the other day. didn't turn out too well for them but whatever.