The Taliban paradox
Taliban have always been a big dilemma for the Pashtuns. Mixing together “Taliban” and “Pashtun” is a mistake. Pashtuns have always been the main victims of Taliban and the people who say Pashtuns and the Taliban are the same thing are making a wrong judgment.
I asked a Pashto speaker in Kandahar about the reason he had 10 children. “Well, three of them probably will be killed in a suicide attack by Taliban” he responded hopelessly, “and two of them will be killed in the clashes for being a shelter for Taliban by government”.
I have friends and colleagues who are not able to go back to their homes and visit their families because of fear caused by Taliban. They hate Taliban but at the meantime they show sympathy when a member of Taliban is being killed by government, cause they are from the same ethnic group.
Today I read an interesting piece by sociologist Asad Buda which I have translated here. I would recommend my Pashtun countrymen to read this!
“Taliban is more of a social issue rather than a political one. It’s clear that this group is fighting for Pakistan’s regional interest. Pakistan is against establishment of a stable central government in Afghanistan and has the Taliban’s bridle in their hand controlling them.
However, a large number of Pashtuns believe that the Taliban are fighting for their historical rights. This illusion is not limited to politicians inside Presidential Palace, but is a social and cultural illusion that has made it impossible for them to maintain a neutral and objective view of Taliban.
Several Pashtun dominated regions provide a sheltered haven for the Taliban. These places are dangerous for government employees who face fatal consequences if they ever trespass the Taliban regions. Some of Pashtun politicians openly support and justify Taliban’s violence. Such acceptance of the Taliban has made difficult to fight them.
Appreciating Taliban violence is not the solution; this will not help solve Pashtuns’ issue. Internal criticism is the best solution to this problem. This should be analyzed by youth and cultural Pashtuns, secrets of this social illusion should be revealed and the socio-political consequences of this issue should be analyzed. Fighting for the benefits of Taliban will make the political power of Pashtuns weaker that exist in the border of Pakistan and will lessen their dignity.
It is a matter of embarrassment that Karzai, Ashraf Ghani, Hanif Atmar and other Pashto speaking ministers are not able to travel freely in southern Afghanistan, even though they call themselves representative of the Pashtuns, sometimes causing conflict between ethnicities.
The Taliban may talk about the historical prestige of Pashtuns. Their hymns/taranas maybe about Pashtuns, but their victims aren’t limited to only non-Pashtuns. In fact, the first victims are those who ask for their rights and those who are sheltering Taliban with strong desire and sincerity.”
