imagine secularism in Afghanistan.

[muhsina]

The more urbanisation and mechanisation happens in Afghanistan,the more you invest in enterprises and build your industrial base,the more your progress indicators improve, the lesser time will it take for secularism and democracy to prevail as a tool of statecraft. Wishing to have more human ways of living in a state having democracy and secularism without shunning off ethnic differences and prejudices is a wishful thinking and day dreaming.

[muhsina]

It is an effect not a cause. It is the result of the above mentioned pre requisites. Hence even if you declare Afghanistan as secular but the pre requisites are not met ,the people of Afghanistan will not see the fruits of secularism. It does not mean that we should support Talibans rule or way of life but my point is we need to work very hard to have the real fruits of secularism and democracy and this is true for Pakistan also and in general for any third world country.

[Saeed Khan]

Despite teming it or advocating secularism or not our matters are more related with social development and social changes. Moving from conservative to liberal society resisted and vice versa. Its basically formed under human mind influenced by culture, religion and education level. Two of the mentioned went deeply in our society while modern education, which lead to correct reasoning have not find their way due to obvious circumstances of the past. It has put all encompass effect and even our educated cant voice for right things to prevail due to effect of majority and less in numbers. Further due to technological innovations, like settelite, cell phone, internet, its impossible to stop changes in society provided once peace come to the region. This technology infulx, equal right of voting to male and female, compulsory and free education pawing its way for social changes. When a society moves on with basic stress on education, other changes occured alongside in economic growth as well as in political maturity. Beside this, social changes also come when individual and groups choose to go against social norms. These changes do not necessarily mean that a change in morals and value occurred. But it may bring some negative effect to society and can eliminate or undermine existing way of life which considered positive. And this is the hard point specially for Pakhtoon to turnaround.

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

The more urbanisation and mechanisation happens in Afghanistan,the more you invest in enterprises and build your industrial base,the more your progress indicators improve, the lesser time will it take for secularism and democracy to prevail as a tool of statecraft. Wishing to have more human ways of living in a state having democracy and secularism without shunning off ethnic differences and prejudices is a wishful thinking and day dreaming.

couldnt have said it better

prior secularization efforts in afghanistan have failed precisely for this reason

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

When has Afghanistan Pushed for Secularism?

Amanullahs reforms in the 1920s and the Khalqi initiatives after the Saur Revolution

I mentioned these 2 specifically because they were radical policy changes as opposed to Zahir/Daud Khans more gradual approach

[AfghansAREone]

Its nice to see people wanting to rebuild our country but secularism is not the way. Yes the taliban made mistakes appling sharia, but we should not jugde a car by its driver. Rather than looking at the talibans action we should look at Muhammad PBUH and try to be like him.

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

Its nice to see people wanting to rebuild our country but secularism is not the way. Yes the taliban made mistakes appling sharia, but we should not jugde a car by its driver. Rather than looking at the talibans action we should look at Muhammad PBUH and try to be like him.

Islamic law is only valuable now in order to maintain law and order, establish the rule of law etc

Once that is done, hopefully forces of modernity and development will take its course. the move towards more secularislim will come naturally

[Nadir Shah]

I disagree, Islamic government can help us unify.

Islam is what we need so we can unite Amir Jaan.

Malgariya, define Islamic Government and also tell us how the Islamic Government can help us achieve Lar aw Bar Yaw Afghan.

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

I disagree, Islamic government can help us unify.

Islam is what we need so we can unite Amir Jaan.

Well I must disclose wrora, that I am not a man of religion.

Islam is our identity yes, and it plays a role in our relations with others. But only an ideology dedicated to Pakhtunism can elevate Pakhtuns

I am in favour of Islamic rule in so far as it used to educated and stabilize the people and prepare them for a nationalist way of thinking

Similiar to how Ataturk used Islamism to consolidate his power and built the modern nation state of Turkey

[Darweshkhel]

Salam to the community here in Pashtun Forums,

I was thinking how peaceful Afghanistan would be if we introduced secularism. I am a Muslim so that would mean I would praxtice my religion. But if we ever had non-Muslims or our current non-Muslim population wanting to follow there religion they can feel free.


There should be no compulsion in religion. We should not be hitting people who don't want to pray, if people are not going to pray when they are asked to, do you think they will proper when you beat them with a stick? Obviously they will pray but there mind will be elsewhere or without wuduu.


so what do you guys think? I encourage all the literate people to participate.

I suggest you to read a book called
'Reform and Rebellion in Afghanistan, 1919-1929: King Amanullah's Failure to Modernize a Tribal Society'; New York; Cornell University Press; 1973 =)

I say AFG will not accept secularism in the next 500 years.

[MazloomyarMaseed]

I couldnt resist

1) Taliban did not unify Pashtuns but instead make them proxies of Pakistan ISI intelligence agency,

2)Taliban aligned itself with Punjabi/Kashmiri Militants(Lashkar e tayba), Chechens and lets not forget Arab Terrorists from Arabia, how did they unify Pashtuns when outsides filled their ranks.

3) IF Taliban cared so much for Pashtuns then why did they appoint a Punjabi ISI Col by the name of Col Imam in Herat?

4) If Taliban united Pashtuns then why did they not bring Sharia into Pashtunkhwa but patrolled the same border with FC and Pak fauge Units?

5)As Hamid Gul once said

"I oppose the attacks on the Afghan Taliban, Why should Pakistan Army attack them for, Afghan Taliban use to Screem Pakistan Zindabad, why should we make them our enemies"

6)How can a Movement produced in Maulana Sami Ul haq Madrassah with strong links with the ISI be considered as a Unifying force for the Pashtun Nation?

7)While the educated Pashtuns are being kidnapped and slaughtered by Taliban, but on the other hand Taliban send jirgas to Miram Shah waziristan to free Col Imam ISI.

8) While Pashtun and Balochi Women are beaten and throw into Prisons, the Taliban are busy protesting for the realease of their Pakistani ISI sister Aafia Sidiiqui.

9)Islam will only unify a particular sect who promote it, Shia and Sufi Pashtuns will not agree unifying with Wahabist/Deobandi Taliban.

10) Banning of Pushto Music and Pashtun instruments will not unify Pashtuns.

11) If Taliban are considered a Unifying Force for all Pashtuns then did Mullah Omar give a verdict that No Talib should attack Pakistan Army in 2008.

12) What about the Pro Govt Talibs who support the state of Pakistan, do you think they will support Pashtun Unity over all?

13) Rahman Babas grave was bombed and taliban took responsibility for it but when a shrine was bombed in Punjab Lahore, The taliban condemed it.

14) the man in charge of the Taliban Media Centre is called Mohammad Omar, and hes a Punjabi(Can a Punjabi promote Pashtun Unity?).

Taliban is a Proxy of ISI, nothing that ISI creates will unite any Pashtun. What Taliban preaches is no different than what an bedion Arab preaches. Taliban is not a Pashtun Unity movement but more of a Arab Unity Movement. Their Ideas are of Arab Imperialistic nature, they insult our historical figures and promote Arab heros instead.

Kind Regards

[Darweshkhel]

Similiar to how Ataturk used Islamism to consolidate his power and built the modern nation state of Turkey

Can you please explain that how would that work?

[MazloomyarMaseed]

Ataturk realised how bad the Arabs were and refused Relgionous Laws and decided to choose secularism which has made Turkey one of the worlds most visited tourist destinations while Arab countries are the worlds most violent and oppressive states.

[MazloomyarMaseed]

Turkey is a Secularist Country. They Abolished Relgionous Laws

But Yes I agree Turkey does follow a sense of Nationalism which has benefited them very highly.

Kind Regards

[MazloomyarMaseed]

Do you think secularism can benefit us?

I beleive Secularism will lead to our nation following a Reformed Version of Pashtunwali that suits the Modern Era.

The benefit is, We can change Pashtunwali to suit our people, but sadly Shariat cant be changed as the Mullah has the last words.

If you understand what I mean.

We dont need Western or Arab Ideoligies, we have a beautiful system in place already but sadly neglected by our rulers both in Afghanistan and Pashtunkhwa.

Kind Regards