What do you think is the biggest threat to Pashtun culture?

[Shapur]

Culture is always evolving and not a static phenomenon so it is inevitable that Pashtun culture will evolve and be influenced by the surrounding cultures. Since you asked specifically about Afghanistan I would say, westernization, desification, religious extremism, persianization and shia influence from Iran and lack education and lack of support by the government to safegaurd our culture. Having said that, Pashtun themselves are outlr biggest enemy because we let it happen

[Elite Pakhtun]

Overseasoned food robs the natural richness of meat. A nice lamb shank should be peppered, mildly salted, not drowned in elaborate sauces and oils ......

Depends. I wouldn't want my steak spicy.

A lot of food is made spicy, and they taste great.

That's true; I was just making a remark about Erectile Dysfunction's favoring desi style cooking.

I had responded in kind last night...but I feel so sorry for you, that I'm just going to let this slide.

[Kabulistan]

Surely Bollywood degeneracy must be the biggest threat from near region...

While overall Westernizatiom must be biggest threat...

.

Long term wise, duo to internet, and the soft/hard power of the West, as the country becomes more developed and more connected to the rest of world, Westernization might be biggest threat to any culture in the Region...

Japan, China, South Korea are examples of countries that became culturally Westernized as they developed...

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

I had responded in kind last night...but I feel so sorry for you, that I'm just going to let this slide.

Maybe it's me who feels sorry for you. E.D.

[Elite Pakhtun]

Maybe it's me who feels sorry for you. E.D.

You're resorting to changing the abbreviations of my name from EP, to ED.

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

You're resorting to changing the abbreviations of my name from EP, to ED.

You're resorting to stating the obvious ...

[Elite Pakhtun]

You're resorting to stating the obvious ...

Just out of curiosity... why is it that you can spell Efreetzai properly, but when it comes to Iblees... you write Iblis. I pronounce it as Ib-liss in my head.

Sounds like Iblees's dorky cousin.

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

Just out of curiosity... why is it that you can spell Efreetzai properly, but when it comes to Iblees... you write Iblis. I pronounce it as Ib-liss in my head.

Sounds like Iblees's dorky cousin.

So that you'll be prompted to ask me this question

[Daryeh]

By the way its misconception that Curry/stew/broth is not eaten in Afghanistan......Curry or stew or broth is "borr", "Yakhni" and "Shorwa" of our Pashto and is cooked in Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa, of chicken (and of many other birds), mutton and beef

Stew and broths are eaten but not curries. Yakhni (broth) and shorwa (soup) aren't curries. I haven't heard of borr, do you have a picture?

[Daryeh]

Culture is always evolving and not a static phenomenon so it is inevitable that Pashtun culture will evolve and be influenced by the surrounding cultures. Since you asked specifically about Afghanistan I would say, westernization, desification, religious extremism, persianization and shia influence from Iran and lack education and lack of support by the government to safegaurd our culture. Having said that, Pashtun themselves are outlr biggest enemy because we let it happen

I agree with the last part.

I've never heard of Shia influence from Iran being a problem? Pashtuns are mostly Sunni Muslims and they don't seem to like Iran anyway.

[Karachi]

Just a question, What do Pashtuns even have that they are so threatened all the time by other cultures? Pashtuns are a broken people with a weak culture compared to their neighbors, Pashtuns have nothing to offer to the rest of the world except for negatives things that so many people of you are involved in. The people who are too proud and nationalistic are fake people who are not in touch with reality at all.

[Daryeh]

Surely Bollywood degeneracy must be the biggest threat from near region...

While overall Westernizatiom must be biggest threat...

.

Long term wise, duo to internet, and the soft/hard power of the West, as the country becomes more developed and more connected to the rest of world, Westernization might be biggest threat to any culture in the Region...

Japan, China, South Korea are examples of countries that became culturally Westernized as they developed...

I think cultural influences from the subcontinent are way more powerful in Afghanistan. I've come across numerous people, online and in real life, who've mistaken Pashtuns for an Indian ethnic group or thought that Pashto is an Indian language and I have had to go out of my way to correct them. If Pashtuns continue to absorb the waves of cultural and genetic influences from India and Pakistan they'll have to reconsider their ethno-cultural identity.

[Daryeh]

Just a question, What do Pashtuns even have that they are so threatened all the time by other cultures? Pashtuns are a broken people with a weak culture compared to their neighbors, Pashtuns have nothing to offer to the rest of the world except for negatives things that so many people of you are involved in. The people who are too proud and nationalistic are fake people who are not in touch with reality at all.

Ethnic and cultural diversity is worth preserving. There's nothing special about Pashtuns. Yea, they have a rough sounding language and their culture is at a pretty primitive stage right now- the point is, at least they can say its THEIR culture, THEIR language. They didn't wholesale adopt the language and culture of their invaders like many "Arab" countries, Pakistan or north India. Throughout history people's languages and cultures have been engulfed by bigger players like the Persians, Arabs or more recently, Soviets and Europeans. At least Pashtuns have clung on to their own indigenous language, one of the few remaining eastern Iranian languages in the world. At least they have their own unique distinct recognisable identity, unlike many other ethnic groups who've just assimilated into a more culturally powerful neighbour or invader.

They have a good foundation. All they need to do is invest more in developing their own ethno-cultural identity that does not rely on foreign ideologies or cultures (at the moment, Islamic extremism and cultural/political influences from India/Pakistan are hindering this).

[Shapur]

I agree with the last part.

I've never heard of Shia influence from Iran being a problem? Pashtuns are mostly Sunni Muslims and they don't seem to like Iran anyway.

Religious Iranians think Wilayatul Faqih is the best thing since sliced bread.

They want to export their ideology far and wide. At the moment the Arab countries are their main target so their attention is diverted but as soon they are done there, they will turn their attention elsewhere. Just as an example there are thousands of Pashtun Shias from Kurram agency fighting in Syria at and Iranian mullahs are facilitating it.

Safavids tried to convert us a few hundred years ago but failed, doesn't mean they have given up.

[Charsi Malang]

Just a question, What do Pashtuns even have that they are so threatened all the time by other cultures? Pashtuns are a broken people with a weak culture compared to their neighbors, Pashtuns have nothing to offer to the rest of the world except for negatives things that so many people of you are involved in. The people who are too proud and nationalistic are fake people who are not in touch with reality at all.

Here we go again.

Just a question. Why do so many non Pashtuns claim Pashtun heritage? Think about it bhaiyya. If we were so bad then your people wouldn't try and link themselves to us in any way possible. From some of the posts I have read on this forum about you, it's come to to my attention that you also are guilty of this.

We are by no means a broken people. We are as a nation going through tough times but inshallah we will survive like we have throughout the centuries. Contrary to your usual stupid statements, our culture is very strong. This is partly the reason we are facing so many problems.