Hate of Pakistani Pashtuns for the words Afghan and Afghanistan

[Samandri]

I have noticed that Pakistani Pashtuns (with the exception of Pashtun nationalists), under the influence of Desis/Indics, have developed intense hatred and repulsion for words Afghan and Afghanistan , and dissociate themselves from not just these two words but entire history and heritage associated with it.....they will be rather Ok with Hindu term "Pathan" /"Pathani (which if you put in google search, will give results of Pathan ,sodomy jokes and other vulgarities). Its true that we prefer to call ourselves Pashtun/Pakhtun but our ancestors have also called themselves Afghan in Pashto literature. Terms Afghan and Afghanistan existed before the creation of modern Afghanistan and its not the term coined by Iranians as it has also been used by Turks, Indians , Chinese,and others. In fact many Pashtuns in the sultanate period have used it as surnames e.g Malik Makh Afghan, Malik Khattab Afgahn etc

[Traveller]

I have noticed that Pakistani Pashtuns (with the exception of Pashtun nationalists), under the influence of Desis/Indics, have developed intense hatred and repulsion for words Afghan and Afghanistan , and dissociate themselves from not just these two words but entire history and heritage associated with it.....they will be rather Ok with Hindu term "Pathan" /"Pathani (which if you put in google search, will give results of Pathan ,sodomy jokes and other vulgarities). Its true that we prefer to call ourselves Pashtun/Pakhtun but our ancestors have also called themselves Afghan in Pashto literature. Terms Afghan and Afghanistan existed before the creation of modern Afghanistan and its not the term coined by Iranians as it has also been used by Turks, Indians , Chinese,and others. In fact many Pashtuns in the sultanate period have used it as surnames e.g Malik Makh Afghan, Malik Khattab Afgahn etc

د افغان په ننګ مې وتړله توره
ننګيالی د زمانې خشحال خټک يم
I equipped a sword for the honor of Afghans
I am Khushal Khattak, the honorable man of this age.
-Khushhal Khan Khattak
What's amazing to note about these lines is that the man who wrote them was from our side of the Durand Line, and his descendants and tribesmen are among those that are today attacking the name Afghan, betraying their own forefather.

What you noted is so true. We lose so much heritage when we disassociate ourselves from this label. The fact is that in history we are more often referred to as Afghans than as Pashtuns and our land until recently was always part of Afghanistan. I was recently reading a book about the great game in which Afghanistan was being referred to in it's historical sense and was being defined as distinct from India. It made me think about what a young Pakistani Pashtun, who had been fed the lie that his people had once been Indian like other Pakistanis and that he was not Afghan, would find when looking for his people in that book. He would probably be confused as he would miss the fact that his people were Afghans, in my eyes, that kind of loss of heritage is a tragedy.

On a final note, it's so sad how we're seeing the label "Desi" being adopted by Pashtuns but the label Afghan opposed. Why would you want to disassociate yourself with a history of pride and honor and embrace a history and identity of servitude and subjugation. No sensible person would do such a thing. It could only happen with the current brainwashing of Pashtuns where we are not taught our own history. The average Afghan probably knows more about Khushhal Baba than the average Pakistani Pashtun even though he is from our side of the Durand Line.

But I have hope that Pashtun identity will remain strong and will always be salvageable. The Internet has played a major role in preserving Pashtun identity and keeping it alive. People like Samandri, may Allah bless his efforts, have made a huge impact on the internet teaching Pashtuns about their history and heritage.

Pashto runs strong in every Pashtun, and inshaallah, it will survive despite the efforts of the aghyar.

[Samandri]

د افغان په ننګ مې وتړله توره
ننګيالی د زمانې خشحال خټک يم
I equipped a sword for the honor of Afghans
I am Khushal Khattak, the honorable man of this age.
-Khushhal Khan Khattak
What's amazing to note about these lines is that the man who wrote them was from our side of the Durand Line, and his descendants and tribesmen are among those that are today attacking the name Afghan, betraying their own forefather.

.

Khushal Khattak about his tribe "Of what worth, of what value were the Khattaks (but) I have made them to be counted among the tribes"

[Traveller]

Khushal Khattak about his tribe "Of what worth, of what value were the Khattaks (but) I have made them to be counted among the tribes"

If Khushal Baba saw modern Pashtuns he would become Khapa Baba.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

In Afghanistan they are trying to forge a national identity by making non-Pashtuns to self identify as 'Afghan'. Everyone knows that Afghan means Pashtun. It is therefore wrong to make others or force them to adopt your ethnicity as their own for political reasons.

Muslim countries can never be nation-states because we are ethnically diverse people. Our ethnic diversity shouldn't be a problem. A mono-ethnic society isn't something we should strive for.

Pashtun nationalists in Afghanistan have tried to force non-Pashtuns to adopt their ethnicity. An unintended side effect of this effort is that they are loosing their fellow Pashtuns on the other side of the Durand line.

Because Pakistani nationalists are using this as evidence to divide Pashtuns into Afghans and Pakistanis.

This only shows us how stupid and self destructive nationalism is.

[ZarakDurrani606]

I have noticed that Pakistani Pashtuns (with the exception of Pashtun nationalists), under the influence of Desis/Indics, have developed intense hatred and repulsion for words Afghan and Afghanistan , and dissociate themselves from not just these two words but entire history and heritage associated with it.....they will be rather Ok with Hindu term "Pathan" /"Pathani (which if you put in google search, will give results of Pathan ,sodomy jokes and other vulgarities). Its true that we prefer to call ourselves Pashtun/Pakhtun but our ancestors have also called themselves Afghan in Pashto literature. Terms Afghan and Afghanistan existed before the creation of modern Afghanistan and its not the term coined by Iranians as it has also been used by Turks, Indians , Chinese,and others. In fact many Pashtuns in the sultanate period have used it as surnames e.g Malik Makh Afghan, Malik Khattab Afgahn etc

*sigh* i have a pashtunistan flag as my profile picture and this alone has caused me a lot of grief on fb. Even today, like a few hours ago, on a pakistani article in which they were comparing the pakistani pm's stance towards Pashtuns to Trump's on the entire muslim world.... and as you expected the talk turned to "kill/kick those Afghan *******s". Naturally, i was incensed and exhorted them on the values of actually using their brains once in a while and that being belligerent to these Afghans was as if they were antagonizing Pashtuns in paki as well. And that was the nail in the coffin, you would'nt believe how many "pashtuns" (self proclaimed) started to call me out... calling me a traitor and what not (whatever) as if i'd support a country that does its utmost to bring the Pashtuns down.

[ZarakDurrani606]

Whilst its only a few "pashtuns" that follow pakistan's pogroms, i'm secure in the knowledge that the majority of Pashtuns in pakistan actually do support their Afghan heritage. The prime (apparent) reason being that they have'nt been influenced by pakistan's mainstream media and various divisive policies promulgated by the government (desification). But its still so disheartening when another Pashtun actually goes against you. The ones who were mostly mouthing off were punjabis and such but a smattering of pashtuns as well. So...... any advice on countering these guys cuz its like walking in a hornet's nest (not that punjapis can actually sting)

[ZarakDurrani606]

In Afghanistan they are trying to forge a national identity by making non-Pashtuns to self identify as 'Afghan'. Everyone knows that Afghan means Pashtun. It is therefore wrong to make others or force them to adopt your ethnicity as their own for political reasons.

Muslim countries can never be nation-states because we are ethnically diverse people. Our ethnic diversity shouldn't be a problem. A mono-ethnic society isn't something we should strive for.

Pashtun nationalists in Afghanistan have tried to force non-Pashtuns to adopt their ethnicity. An unintended side effect of this effort is that they are loosing their fellow Pashtuns on the other side of the Durand line.

Because Pakistani nationalists are using this as evidence to divide Pashtuns into Afghans and Pakistanis.

This only shows us how stupid and self destructive nationalism is.

What can we do to stop this? The paki nationalists are gaining ground at an alarming rate

[ZarakDurrani606]

د افغان په ننګ مې وتړله توره
ننګيالی د زمانې خشحال خټک يم
I equipped a sword for the honor of Afghans
I am Khushal Khattak, the honorable man of this age.
-Khushhal Khan Khattak
What's amazing to note about these lines is that the man who wrote them was from our side of the Durand Line, and his descendants and tribesmen are among those that are today attacking the name Afghan, betraying their own forefather.

What you noted is so true. We lose so much heritage when we disassociate ourselves from this label. The fact is that in history we are more often referred to as Afghans than as Pashtuns and our land until recently was always part of Afghanistan. I was recently reading a book about the great game in which Afghanistan was being referred to in it's historical sense and was being defined as distinct from India. It made me think about what a young Pakistani Pashtun, who had been fed the lie that his people had once been Indian like other Pakistanis and that he was not Afghan, would find when looking for his people in that book. He would probably be confused as he would miss the fact that his people were Afghans, in my eyes, that kind of loss of heritage is a tragedy.

On a final note, it's so sad how we're seeing the label "Desi" being adopted by Pashtuns but the label Afghan opposed. Why would you want to disassociate yourself with a history of pride and honor and embrace a history and identity of servitude and subjugation. No sensible person would do such a thing. It could only happen with the current brainwashing of Pashtuns where we are not taught our own history. The average Afghan probably knows more about Khushhal Baba than the average Pakistani Pashtun even though he is from our side of the Durand Line.

But I have hope that Pashtun identity will remain strong and will always be salvageable. The Internet has played a major role in preserving Pashtun identity and keeping it alive. People like Samandri, may Allah bless his efforts, have made a huge impact on the internet teaching Pashtuns about their history and heritage.

Pashto runs strong in every Pashtun, and inshaallah, it will survive despite the efforts of the aghyar.

God bless, wrora!!!

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

The problem isn't just Paki nationalism of Afghan nationalism. It's nationalism in general.

We need to deconstruct nationalism and expose how it is an immoral and corrupt ideology.

[Samandri]

Bigoted nationalism indeed exists on both sides..........I share innocent history stuff on twitter and my location says "Pakistan" ....Occasionally an Afghan (citizen of Afghanistan), with Najibullah Photo or with Pashtunistan/Loy Afghanistan and comrade tag, questions me that ' why you are posting stuff on Pashtun history when you are a Pakistani?....or that you dont have any right to post any thing about 'our' history.....an ANP-wala from Mardan ,with Najibullah logo and Loy Afghanistan tag, declared me to be on agenda of GHQ when i tweeted that Ghurids were not Pashtuns. To check the nature of the people following me, i tweeted that "I am Pakistani citizen and if this part of my identity disgusts you then you are can unfollow me".....around forty people unfollowed me within hours, who were either Afghan citizens with Amanullah photos and Afghanistan flag or were comrades (commies)......

But the thing about Pakistani Pashtuns is more worrisome......Pro-Pakistani Pashtun Pakistanists (Jeeway Jeeway zindabad type) are generally disinterested in Pashtun history and say it encourages regionalism and is against the spirit of being Pakistani.......but they start making loud noises whenever some one says that Afghan and Pashtun is one thing ..... in attempt to prove that they are good Pakistanis, they start insulting their own history and identity. They have this intense hatred for Bar Pashtuns and Afghanistan just because Afghanistan doesnt recognize Durand line......

I agree with Khurasani that its Afghanistan which complicated the matter by imposing Afghan identity on non-Pashtuns and this created great confusion about the Afghan identity in Pakistan.....now Punjabis and their Pashtun cronies are constantly yapping that Afghan and Pashtun are very different....On my facebook group about Pashtun history, i have banned any stuff related to Pakistani nationalism, Pashtun nationalism (ANP and PMAP's politics) and Afghanistani nationalism, and it has resulted in healthy group activity

[Elite Pakhtun]

@Samandri, c'mon ror... I'm a bit surprised. This is very easy. I believe your theory as to the reason behind the revulsion is wrong.

The revulsion to the word Afghan is because it means citizen of Afghanistan. This was the perception before the ID cards stuff. It's not because they're trying to show they're good Pakistanis, it's because the perception they have of citizens of Afghanistan is typically that of refugees, criminals, and highly untrustworthy, backstabbing people. They're seen as lower class. All negative stereotypes, that I personally think is a bit unfair. This is all they see with their own eyes... whether it's right or wrong is irrelevant. If they only see the refugee Afghans in their life, they'll have a certain perception of Afghans.

In Pakistan Pakhtuns have an aura of uniqueness, and that gets downgraded if they're called Afghans. That's all there is to it. Ethnicity has little (nothing?) to do with it. Most don't really know that Afghan was once a synonym for Pakhtun (as you've said). To them it means citizen of Afghanistan. Maybe things have changed a bit with the internet etc... but for the most part, unless they're actively searching/learning, they simply don't know this. Few people access the internet, even fewer look up sites like this.

Those who partake in online activities have probably also noticed how much Afghans hate us as well. That also influences things. I myself had no real idea they had such problems with us until I came here. For the most part, Afghanistan didn't occupy my thoughts ever. It was just this country to the East of Pakistan, and oh yeah, there's Pakhtuns there... that's pretty cool. When I came here, I was a bit surprised at how many spiteful, hateful individuals there were, spouting venom... and supporting India. The supporting India part is borderline unforgivable. Just see this from their perspective... They're thinking that if Afghans will side with such an enemy, why wouldn't they want to distance themselves from Afghanistan? ESPECIALLY when Afghans were allowed refuge in Pakistan, no questions asked, were basically given a second chance at life, at Pakistan's expense... they use this to justify calling them "Namak Haram".

So ethnicity has very very little to do with it. It's all politics.

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with this... I'm just giving you harsh realities of their perception. I'm merely the merchant of truth.

[Porus]

[MENTION=18842]Samandri[/MENTION]

Isn't it true that on your identity cards "qoumiyat" or ethnicity for Pashtuns is still 'Afghan'?

I also find it strange that according to the Indian Muslim elite who were pushing to create Pakistan, the 'A' in Pakistan stands for 'Afghania/Afghan province', yet that name never came into being.

[Samandri]

@Samandri

Isn't it true that on your identity cards "qoumiyat" or ethnicity for Pashtuns is still 'Afghan'?

I also find it strange that according to the Indian Muslim elite who were pushing to create Pakistan, the 'A' in Pakistan stands for 'Afghania/Afghan province', yet that name never came into being.

On Identity cards (NIC) Qomiat is not mentioned.....some one on the web claimed it and others followed it without proof.

It was in old birth certificates and domiciles, of British period and of early decades of Pakistan, in which Qomiat was mentioned to be Afghan. In land revenue records qomiat is still mentioned to be Afghan.......but i think when these land records are computerized, the Afghan qomiat thing will be removed from it.

In have read that British started using word Pathan more frequently for people under their government after Durand line treaty 1893 and many British officers started saying that Afghan and Pathan are different. So what Pakistan is doing is actually continuation of British policy. A British officer Major H.G.Raverty says in his book that H.W.Bellew, another officer and author, invented Rajput theory of Pashtun origin in 19th century so that British government of India could justify its occupation and annexation of Pashtun areas.

[Samandri]

If Khushal Baba saw modern Pashtuns he would become Khapa Baba.

He would not be surprised though......what he see today will be Pashtuns repeating their history..........Pashtun people are remarkably readable and predictable