November 2009 - The KhyberWatch

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
3
Editorial
4
Letters to the Editor
6
Blunders of Escapism
Zaland Khan
Crises in Pukhtunkhwa and Our Imperatives
Abdul Qudus Wazirzada
16
What Exactly is the Pashtun Cause?
Pir Rokhan
21
Where is Pakistan Headed?
Fatima Ahmed Yousafzai
25
Cycle Teacher
Shehroz Khan
30
Hope or Deceit?
Azra Nafees
32
Pukhtun’s Saadar
Muhammad Arif
34
Akhtar
Imad Ullah Khiyal
36
Z’ma Mor (My Mother)
Ata Khan
39
Maat Saangoona- A Book Review
Quraysh Khattak
40
Emerging
Ahmadzai
Pashtun
Talent
-
Speenghar
9
43
An Interview with Zeek Afridi
Azra Nafees
45
Tough as old boots
Muhammad Ismail
51
About Us
55
Guidelines for Article Submission
56
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Contributors
This Magazine would not have been possible without contributions from the Pashtun
Academia, Diaspora, Journalists, members of Pashtun communities abroad and
other social forum friends. Thanks for sharing your articles and writings with SAHARThe Voices of Pashtuns. We urge you to keep up the good work.
Editing
A very special thanks to Farhad Yousafzai who has been there all along to help me
in editing the articles.
Technical Assistance
My special thanks to the very dedicated Wadan Yousafzai who designed the title
cover for this month’s magazine and extended technical assistance.
Feature
A huge thanks to Muhammad Ismail for writing an interesting feature on
“Charsadwalay Saplay” as a tribute to the Pashtun craftmen of Charsadda.
Book Review
Many thanks are due to Quraysh Khattak who reviewed “ Maat Saangoona” , a
translation by Dr. Khaliq Ziar of the famous book “ The Broken Wings” by Khalil
Gibran.
Interview
I must also extend my gratitude to the accomplished Pashtun singer, Zeek Afridi for
sparing time for interview with SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns.
We hope that this magazine brings you insight about the various Pashtun issues as
well as help you remain in touch with your culture, art and literature.
SAHAR
November 2009
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EDITORIAL
This month’s SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns comes to you with tears in the eyes
and a heart full of pain - a pain that refuses to go away. Millions of Pashtun elders,
women and children will again be spending the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha in the misery
of squalid refugee camps, in tatters, without food, warm clothes & blankets in the
harsh winters with the fear of death and destruction all around; just like the Eid-ul-Fitr
in scorching heat of the summers. But as Nawaz Khan puts it,
“Sta ka da shledale kaliwala lopata pa ser
Ma hum pa zaro zaro jaamo ke AKHTAR kare de”
The Pashtun region of Pakistan and Afghanistan is drifting fast into an unfathomable
state of anarchy. Violence and militancy has spread so fast that it is difficult even to
gauge the magnitude of devastation that has engulfed every life. There is hardly
anyone not affected one way or the other by the state of turmoil. No life is safe and
no soul unaffected. The military operation in Waziristan has resulted in another and
more devastating wave of terrorist acts along with a continuous stream of miserable
IDPs who have been forced out of their homes. Thousands of them have moved to
DI Khan, Tank, Peshawar and the adjoining areas. Hundreds of Pashtun children are
once again forced to spend the cold winters in makeshift camps out in the open. The
Pakistani Government has miserably failed to alleviate the suffering of those affected
by the operation. More disturbing is the fact that the government has no strategy in
place to consolidate the gains of the military operations by backing it up with sincere
and appropriate political, economic and social reform package. The fear is that this
operation will also end up in a stalemate like earlier such operations in FATA and the
net outcome will be more misery for the hapless Pashtuns of the region.
The successful conclusion of the election process in Afghanistan is a good thing, but
apprehensions about the capacity of Mashar Hamid Karzai to bring peace to that
unfortunate country are on the increase because of the escalating violence and the
failure of Mr Karzai to have achieved much of what he promises today over the last 8
years. While the Obama administration is in the middle of a new US policy review of
the Afghan conflict, there is increased mantra in the rightist media asking US to
devise a quick move out plan. This is going to be disastrous not only for Afghanistan
but the whole region and will leave Afghanistan at the mercy of Al-Qaeda, Taliban
and machinations of the neighbouring countries. The perpetual cycle of violence
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November 2009
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meanwhile spreads far and wide on both sides of the Durand. While we write this,
the whole of Pukhtunkhwa is once again engulfed in the flames of bomb blasts,
suicide attacks, targeted shooting, drone attacks and military operations. The reconstruction of the devastated Pashtun region and rehabilitation of the millions of
displaced Pashtuns will take a long long time and under the prevalent
circumstances, there is little hope of that happening any time soon.
In this backdrop SAHAR, attempts to explore the long standing issue as well as the
emerging scenarios unfolding, in order to bring light to the subjects, by including a
variety of articles. Zaland Khan in his article ‘Blunders of Escapism’ has outlined the
historical roots of the crisis in Pakistan, particularly how the simplistic solutions to
complex problems impact on long term stability of the region. He aptly concludes that
‘complex situations demand complex solutions’. Abdul Qadus Wazirzada’s article
‘Crises in Pukhtunkhwa and Imperatives for Pashtuns’ is a must read for all
Pashtuns, particularly the youth. He has rightly established that the only way that can
bring a meaningful and a lasting change in the life of the poor people of Pakistan and
Afghanistan in general and the Pashtuns in particular is education. Fatima Ahmed
Yousafzai has tried to explore the emerging scenarios and shifting power structures
in view of the deepening conflict in the region in her article ‘Where is Pakistan
Headed?’ which deserves a serious look by our Pashtun leadership. Pir Rokhan’s
article on “ What exactly is the Pashtun Cause” is a must read for all. Those
Pashtuns settled abroad will have a good time reading the feature about ‘Da
Charsadwalay Sapplay’ in the article titled ‘Tough as old Boots’ by Muhammad
Ismail and the interview with ‘Bibi Sheerinay’ singer Zeek Afridi. A new feature
added this time and which we want to continue in future is ‘Emerging Pashtun Talent’
in which we will introduce to you the young and talented Pashtuns who are
accomplishing a great deal in various fields and will be taking over as the new
leaders of the Pashtuns in future.
Your valued feedback will help us immensely to improve the standard and quality of
the magazine. We encourage all of you to write for SAHAR. Happy Reading!
Editor in Chief
Azra Nafees
[email protected]
SAHAR
November 2009
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We feel extremely grateful to the readers who send in their comments and
valuable suggestions. We look forward to your valued comments and reviews to
make this magazine a quality publication. Following are excerpts from some of the
emails that we received as feedback on the October 2009 issue. We would
appreciate if your comments focus more on the selection and quality of articles as
well as participate in the debate that the selected articles intend to generate.
Qazi Amin, New Zealand
Dear Editor, I read the well researched, well written and very well presented article
on the future of Pashtun youth with great interest. Though the length of the essay
discourages a person like me, the fact is, it vividly demonstrates the feelings and the
sincerity of the writer. With very clear picture of the existing scenario, valid reasons
and examples and a sincere approach for solution, the article has amply highlighted
the problems. The solution, unfortunately, assumes the sincerity of the government
which, as pointed while drawing the picture, is responsible for the whole thing. I
appreciate the writer and congratulate SAHAR for having such contributors.
Dr. Ali Haider, Pakistan
Thanks for sending me a copy of SAHAR
journal. It is a nice effort. I am
a
neurosurgeon working in Lady reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. I have a vision
to establish a welfare Neurocenter in Peshawar. As a first step, I have established a
welfare center with the name of Life Stroke & Spine Center, where we treat the
neuro patients who have brain and spine injuries. For that purpose, we registered an
organisation with the name of Life & Hope. Through your magazine, I wish to request
all Pashtun neurosurgeons, neurologists or specialists related to neurosciences to
join and help me in this noble cause. People of other nationalities working in
neurosciences related fields are welcome to contribute to our cause in any capicity.
Dr. Ghayyur Ayub, UK
My friend Abdullah Sadiq forwarded 'SAHAR’ to me. It was a good read. In one of
the letters, someone mentioned an article titled 'Syed Ahmad Bareli and Afghans' .
Could I please be sent the said article via email?
SAHAR
November 2009
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Sami Khan, Pakistan
I read the article, about the ‘Pashtun Youth and their Future’ by Fatima Ahmed
Yousafzai. It was fantastic. The start was particularly attractive and the author’s
visualisation is excellent. I felt as if I was there too, to obseve. I have a similar story
to tell. While studying for my M.Phil in Islamabad, I used to take breakfast for some
time with three Afghan orphan boys, who were garbage collectors. Through the
article, I realised the misery of thousands of such children. Great job. Bless and
Peace.
Shahid Ilyas, Turkey
Dear Editor, I really appreciate your efforts towards raising awareness about the
plight of our brave nation. Taking advantage of this occasion, may I point to a very
big misunderstanding regarding Pashtuns and statehood. Many of us believe that the
Pashtuns have a state in Afghanistan. But I think that is not the case. For a state to
be called ‘Pashtuns', it should have an absolute majority of the Pashtuns. For
example, the Punjabis have a state in Pakistan because they are the most numerous
in absolute terms and they use the state of Pakistan for their own benefits. In
Afghanistan, Pashtuns are less than 50%. That is why, Abdullah Abdullah is
blackmailing the electoral process in Afghanistan. Therefore, I think the Pashtuns
need to understand that they, inspite of the fact that they are a nation of over 50
million people, do not have a state of their own. They need to have a state in which
they have an overwhelming majority. Only then they will be able to make legislation
reflecting their culture, temperament, and historical experiences. Otherwise I am
afraid that they will lose their distinct identity. By the way many of our young girls
and boys have forgotten themselves already and behave like Punjabis and
Farsibans. We need to highlight this in our writings. Nations without states of their
own are always at the risk of annihilation. Isn’t it ironical that I can read and write
Urdu better than Pashto? I know Lahore better than Kandahar. I know more about
Jinnah than Ahmed Shah Baba. I know foreign heroes better than my own. I prefer
Urdu songs to Pashto. I read Urdu newspapers and not Pashto. I know Indian history
better than the history of the Pashtuns. I know more about Iqbal's poetry than
Khushal Khan Baba. Are we already on the way to annihilation?
SAHAR
November 2009
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Alam Zeb Khan, Kabul : Dear
Editor, SAHAR! Congratulations! SAHAR-The
Voices of Pashtuns is like a wave of cool breeze, and like dawn spreading light over
the Pashtun lands. It would be more advantageous, if we focus on Pashtun territory
because the brave Afghan nation has lost its consolidation in the past century and is
at the verge of annihilation today. This would be a great job to be accomplished
through dedicated and committed Pashtun writers, teachers, scholars, scientists,
journalists, political activists, artists and traders community etc. I want to make some
suggestions. You must define the contemporary issues confronting the Pashtuns in
Pakistan , Afghanistan and rest of the world by asking SAHAR readers to send in
their input to form the vision for SAHAR on the basis of which you may adopt the
objectives. The writers from Pashtun community worldwide should be encouraged
through SAHAR, to contribute in this noble mission. Step one- Active participation in
selection of the goals and vision for this forum. Step two- Identification of the
problems and issues faced by the Afghan nation. Step three- Evolving a course of
action to counter the threats, and finding remedies. The voice of Pashtuns should be
raised through all means of communications by members of SAHAR. The focus
should be on peace and uniting the disintegrated Pashtun Nation. The SAHAR-VOP
should be used as a forum to sensitize / alert the whole nation about the danger of
extremism which has infiltrated deep in our society. This can be done by arranging a
survey, circulating a properly designed questionaire to the Pashtun professionals
from all walks of life. The result will help in adopting a strategy for sensitization of the
nation. I know many writers of the SAHAR VOP, are trustful and dedicated to the
cause. You have taken the first step and keep it up till the achievement of the goals. I
can inform friends here in Kabul by sending them copies of SAHAR. These friends
are working on Pashtu global Network, a big organization which held a world class
Pashtu Nariwal Conference in Kabul last month in Loya Jirga Hall. I am also a
member of this forum and will link your forum with their members all over the world.
Best wishes.
Alam Zeb Khan, Chairman SAHAR NGO, alam49@ gmail.com
Editors Note.
Readers are requested to send in their suggestions/ comments to
the editor on Alam Zeb Khan’s suggestions and proposals.
SAHAR
November 2009
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Section 1 : History, Geo-Politics & Current Affairs
BLUNDERS OF ESCAPISM
Zaland Khan
The stimulant for this piece was an article by Mr. Roedad Khan, an
accomplished ex–bureaucrat and regular columnist of Pashtun origin, published in
the daily ‘The News’ sometimes back. In his article ‘How will history remember
General Musharraf’, Mr Roedad Khan, writing about Pakistan comments that “We
were a nation founded on laws and rules”. When I thought about it, I realised that it
was this perception which was the basis of all the confusion in Pakistan. With this
distorted understanding of history; we will never be able to find our way in the
darkness and will keep on repeating our mistakes again and again. In our short
history of existence, time has given us very harsh and severe punishments but we
are repeating the same mistakes and learning no lessons from the past.
The famous German philosopher Hegel once
describing
the
sorry
state
of
German
society
commented, ‘The present state of our society is, that
our head is in the city and our legs are in the village,
and the result is that society is dominated by religious
logic not philosophical logic’. That was said in the 18th
century. We are living in the 21st Century but our
present society is definitely backward than the German society of that time. I must
mention that the Pakistani society and particularly the Pashtuns were not exactly
religious until the seventies as is generally believed. I remember visiting a Russian
Circus in ‘Jashn-e-Khyber’ at Peshawar with my father in the sixties as a small boy.
The Acrobat girls were scantily dressed but nobody was taking any notice of that.
One influence probably was that the people had lived for a long time in a British
colony and it was not something unusual. In seventies, I was a student of the
Convent High School at Risalpur, which had co-education and this was acceptable
because these things remained a part of the society since the Colonial times. Now I
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know that this school is no more there and co-education in schools is now a thing of
the past. I don’t know may be I am not correct but this part of the Hegel’s saying that
our society is dominated by religious logic instead of philosophical logic has
tremendous resemblance with our country and people. This country was made on
the basis of two nation theory in which ‘nation’ was defined on the basis of religion.
That Great India, the country of all Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsies and
Christians was divided on the basis of religion. These communities had been living
for centuries in a huge united and diverse India. A large number of small and big
nationalities with numerous languages like Hindi, Farsi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi etc
were living in one India. It was not easy of course, it was very diverse but there were
a lot of common things between the various religious communities. There were the
possibilities to use the common things which both the largest communities, the
Hindus and Muslim had instead of increasing differences to the level of two nations
theory which led to the eventual partition.
The theory of two nations was as much attractive and emotional then, as the
Jihadi activity in Pakistan and Afghanistan today. But in fact, it was a ‘simple
solution for a very complex problem’. The political leadership of Muslims were
moving onward to the formation of Pakistan but none of them had the capability to
understand or realize that what will be the future of this new “Pak Country”. They had
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no Idea what kind of Political system will they adopt in a country made in the name of
Islam. From the very beginning they even had no clear vision and clear idea which
parts of India will be included in this new country. These things were not important
for the Muslim leadership; their ultimate and basic target was to accomplish the
division of India. The theory of two nations was religious logic; it was that instrument
which facilitated the division of India on the religious basis. The formation of state
was completed while feeding the people all along, that the main reason of their
problem is one India and its diversity, and when they will get separated from India,
every thing will be alright. There will be Islamic brotherhood and there will be no
Cataclysmic situations. The people were not aware of the fact that the formation of a
country was just the beginning of a tragic and harsh life and peace and prosperity
could only be accomplished with a sound and inclusive political system. After the
death of Jinnah, the political test of the system started. Liaqat Ali Khan was killed
and slowly and gradually the country was pushed into uncertainty. The desired
inclusive political system of the young country never took root since nothing had ever
been conceived beyond separation and independence. Ultimately the real power of
the country got concentrated in the hands of the elites with vested interests including
the feudal Lords, the military and bureaucracy.
On the internal front the elites continued using religious logic as a guideline
and instead of giving more autonomy to small nationalities and other components of
the state; they started propagating the slogans of one God, one Book, and one
Language. Instead of giving proper attention to the needs of small provinces and
their rights, they imposed one unit on them. This was another attempt like the
formation of Pakistan to find out a ‘simple solution for complicated problem’. It’s a
well known fact that in politics, most complicated problems need complex and
multifaceted approach to resolve. Whenever solutions are simplified, the problem resurfaces in a different form. With this kind of behaviour we lost East Pakistan.
Resultantly, most people completely lost their trust in the Muslim brotherhood. The
two nation theory proved unsustainable to keep this country united and was unable
to survive even for 25 years. Without going in to the details of the humanitarian
tragedy which the people of Bangladesh had to suffer during their struggle for
independence from Western Pakistani brothers; it is very obvious that the ‘separation
of Bengal’ was a great blow to the notion of Muslim brotherhood and pan-Islamism.
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Generally the questions of different nationalities are some of the most
complicated political questions all over the world but here they attempted to solve
them with simple solutions. The same practice continues even today. The forces of
establishment have always tried to ignore the will of small Nationalities. They have
always been trying to hide the real and day to day problems of different nationalities
and provinces under the curtain of Islam and tried to use religious logic for
justification. The people of my age remember the imposition of one unit. These
forces tried to keep all the economical, political and administrative levers in the
centre i.e. in Punjab. On one side they were trying to ignore the rights of small
nationalities, while on the other side they were showing to the people of Bengal and
the world that there is no disagreement among the nationalities. They propagated
that every thing is going smoothly in Pakistan and simply the country has two parts;
one is called West Pakistan and the other East Pakistan. But all of us know that
nothing was simple, people in small provinces and Bengal were suffering
economically, politically, administratively and culturally. It’s very obvious that you
can’t change the things simply with changing the names, ignoring the disease
doesn’t mean you are treating the disease. On the contrary, it adopts new forms and
adds new complications and ultimately becomes the cause of death. It was just a
show to the people of the world; it was a show and mockery. They were keeping
Nationalist leaders behind the bars most of the times, using different justifications.
Nothing has changed since then. The death of Nawab Akbar Bugti and other Baloch
leaders is still the continuation of that cruel political thinking which exists in the roots
of this state - zero tolerance and cruel punishments for diversity.
On the external front after the so called independence, the same political elite
did not want to make friendship with a Godless country like Russia. The eventual
alignment with the USA and the West, participation in SEATO and SENTO and
assuming the role of a front line state against Soviet Russia was motivated by the
same theory used by Jinnah for the formation of Pakistan. It is not a hidden fact that
the political wing of Zia ul Haq’s army Jummat-e-Islami (JI) was openly saying that
they will not stop at Kabul but will go all the way to Bokhara and Samarkand. Their
slogans were like reminiscences of the dark ages. When becoming a part of this
coalition, the cunning and brutal dictator Zia-ul-Haq never asked the people of the
country about their opinion. The few elites never analyzed what will be the ultimate
result of turning the country into a front line state. They were not used to differences
SAHAR
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of opinion. These forces kept preparing thousands of religious fanatics and militants
for decades. But as usual, they forgot what will be the ultimate result of their
adventure and how it will bounce back when USSR was defeated. Yes they defeated
USSR, yes they won the cold war for USA and West but what did the people of
Pakistan and especially the people of Pukhtunkhwa get from this war? The people
of the country and region got a ruined economy, suicide bombers, thousands of
militant fanatics and an obscurantist extremist Jihadist ideology which ensures that
the stream of militant fanatics continue to flow.
Let’s draw a contrast here. What did our neighbours on the east did after
independence? The Indian leadership used their philosophical logic, international
and national experience to ensure national security, development and stability.
Instead of moving around religious logic; they were in search of those friends and
economies that were really capable to make the back bone of their country. They
had no inspiration to become the tool of any international force in the region. They
were very carefully and delicately watching the international political situation and
tried to use it in their favour. They had no wish to be used by someone. On the
opposite, they were capable to use international environment in their own favour and
today India is a shining star, its economy is strong, its democracy is one of the
biggest in the world and now it’s stretching its muscles on every front to become a
global power. They were aware of the fact, that to get freedom was easy but to keep
freedom with honour and dignity was not easy. They got their freedom not for
experiments and adventures, they knew their responsibility as a new independent
country and as a nation and they knew how to be inclusive and ensure every
stakeholder was taken along. They didn’t use religion as a means of inspiration in
their politics as they were aware that it is an instrument which can be easily used for
power against democracy and against people’s interest. It can be argued that the
Indian politicians in the struggle for freedom did not use religion as a means of
inspiration because religion can be a source of narrow-mindedness and is always
open to exploitation. Yes the Pakistan’s founding fathers always blamed that
Congress leadership was cunning, they were saying one thing and doing other thing,
but these are just hypothesis. No one can claim that they had propagated or openly
pretended that they are representing only Hindu interests and not Muslim interests,
since they were usually talking about Indian interests and the same has helped them
to keep the billion people strong and diverse country together and at peace.
SAHAR
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On the other side Pakistani Leadership (Jinnah) openly braced Islam and
used it as an instrument for political purpose. Pakistani leadership probably chose
the way of escapism because they were weak and could not fathom the demands of
a nation state in the modern times. They were not in a position to associate with the
Congress leadership and make common decisions. They did not have the cultural
sensitivity and understanding of social dynamics to settle things in complicated
situations influenced by diverse factors. They perceived themselves as past rulers of
India by historical extension but they were not ready to be in opposition. They were
not ready to accept the new circumstances and new conditions. The new
circumstances were the right of vote to all the citizens of the country, the era of
democracy, pluralism and secularism. Had they not chosen the path of separatism,
they would possibly have learnt more from the politics of diverse India. There was a
possibility that today the Muslims of one India could have prosperous and stable
lives than what they have in Pakistan. As mentioned earlier, the lack of vision,
intellectual emptiness, misperceived religious logic, and narrow-mindedness of the
political leadership were the main weaknesses which led to their refusal to accept
pluralism. They were politically bankrupt and the only vision they had was to divide a
people who had been living together for centuries on communal basis. They
managed to get an independent country but had no knowledge and experience to
work with the people and accept diversity of opinion in a country with diverse
nationalities, cultures and languages.
When Russia was defeated in Afghanistan, the big elephant USA, decided to
leave the region leaving the mess in Afghanistan and Pakistan. On one side it was a
huge burden for Pakistan to handle this complicated situation but on the other side
the politico-military elite and political Ideologues were very happy to start another
adventure and experiment. They were again busy advocating the theory of two
nations. Yes they were arguing that the loss of East Pakistan has a lot of other
reasons like geography and different languages but that loss doesn’t mean that two
nations theory is dead or it has no power to expand Pakistan. They started dreaming
to colonise Afghanistan hoping to make it a part of Pakistan, using the same old
faulty rationale. The repeated Islamabad brokered deals to install a Government and
eventually the backing of Taliban was a consequence of the same policy. The same
policy forced Pakistan to be the first to recognize the medieval Taliban regime in
Kabul and establish diplomatic relations with them, because they snatched the
power in Kabul backed up by Pakistan. Thus another era of Pan- Islamism started
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for the rulers in Islamabad; the era of expansionism towards Central Asia. Of course
their first target was to swallow Afghanistan. They started to destroy most of the
historical and cultural symbols of that country. Their ultimate target was to destroy all
those symbols in Afghanistan which were known as the identification of Afghanistan
and Pashtuns. The destruction of the largest statue of Buddha was a part of the
same conspiracy. They were planning to convert slowly and gradually Afghanistan in
to a colony of Pakistan and then later to declare it as part of Pakistan. But they did
not understand that their religious logic is not sustainable, their pan-Islamist agenda
is not consistent with the modern world. They are always coming out with their old
instrument-religion, without understanding that the world is more complicated than
that. They have used Islam on every front and today they are getting the taste of this
religious logic. They were just using these slogans, but Mullah Umar is bringing it to
their home now. They are drinking the juice of that fruit which they had grown in last
50-60 years.
Thus I would like to conclude that ‘we were not a nation founded on the basis
of laws and rules’, as Mr Roedad Khan would like us to believe. Nations founded on
laws and rules do not rule their people in the way we are being ruled for the past 60
years. Nations founded on laws and rules do not sell their citizens for a few billion
Dollars. Nations founded on laws and rules try to resolve their problems with their
neighbours peacefully. They do not hang their elected Prime Ministers, or imprison
and kill their nationalist leaders like Bugti and others. Instead, nations founded on
laws and rules try to live the life of dignity and respect accepting diversity and
difference of opinion. Unfortunately we have never seen a single day after
independence which can confirm this.
The writer is a journalist by profession and holds a Degree in Journalism from
Moscow. He used to be an active member of the Progressive Students Movement in
Pakistan.
SAHAR
November 2009
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CRISES IN PUKHTUNKHWA AND OUR IMPERATIVES
Abdul Qudus Wazirzada
T
he current crises in the Pashtun lands on both sides of the infamous line are
mainly political. Why the Pashtuns have been caught in this imbroglio
depends, to quite some extent, on the
dynamics of the Pashtun culture and our belief
system that makes the Pashtuns a fiercely
independent and proud race. This is a 5000 year
old culture that has played a significant role in
shaping the history of not only the Indian
Subcontinent but the whole region from Western
borders of Iran to the Eastern borders of India.
Apart from their military prowess the Pashtuns
have offered renowned leaders, scholars, poets,
mystics, musicians, artists, architects, scientists,
healers, explorers and much more to every
civilization that established itself in the region.
The
Pashtuns
have
been
the
principal
contributors to build the infrastructure in Pakistan, the Gulf States and places as far
as Australia; yet they are the most misunderstood society and people. Who is to be
blamed for this? Probably, none other than Pashtuns themselves are to be blamed.
Not standing together for liberty; but for divisions on the issues facing them rather
than addressing them. In the fast changing world today, there is a lot we can do if we
put our hearts and minds to it. A Pashtun is born free and wants to remain free. Love
of freedom is a sentiment that is rooted in his psyche and culture. Historians have
often been bewildered with the amazing attributes of the Pashtuns and his
unrelenting quest for liberty. Brig. Haroon Rashid in Introduction to his epic book
“The Pathan” Volume I, states - “The Pathan, a hard, rugged mountain man, is a
warrior and a mystic, a rogue and a saint, foxy and innocent, chivalrous and ruthless.
Beneath the heroic overtones of both, the man and the land, legendary murmurs are
sometimes heard. Their traditions are not only stoic but also fatalistic though one
thing he is not fatalistic about is his liberty. They are, by breed a slim wiry lot, fighting
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outsiders and waging endless battles, to
him struggle is life itself. He lives and dies
by his rifle. Battle thrusts are the pulse of
his race, vengeance in his creed, violence
his custom, where owning a weapon is a
cult; as dear as honor itself.”
Every Empire that came in and
faded away has further strengthened the
resolve of this great people but left us
divided as ever. That does not help at all to
address the current plight of the Pashtun
nation which is severely inflicted with
poverty, illiteracy and neglect. We, the Pashtuns, have to get together to address
this situation otherwise we are sure to end up in oblivion as a nation. We need to
collate our qualities that have been the talk of the centuries and use our energies,
our intelligence and our zest for the good of our people. But how much effort are we
putting in to get out of this mess? Almost none! The question is; how do we re-invent
ourselves and become active participants in the quest of knowledge, in the
development of our society and advancement of our people. How many of us really
understand the politics and intrigues and the games played by the external powers
and their pawns on our lands? With respect to Pakistan, I firmly believe that due to
wrong policies and the wrong people appointed to address Pashtun issues by
various governments who have very little understanding of the culture of Pashtuns
the situation in the tribal areas has slowly drifted out of the hands of the tribal elders
and by proxy the hands of the government. The traditional tribal command and
control has been overtaken by the Mullahs or religious zealots who have a skewed
view of Islam. I do not know who to thank more for this; the government of Pakistan
or the USA. Whatever is taking place in the tribal areas was predictable after what
happened in Afghanistan in the 90s. Now at this stage to establish the writ of the
government is going to be almost an impossible task. Thousands of innocent lives
will be lost but we are not sure if it will serve the purpose. I really do not see use of
force as a solution. What has the use of force resulted in Afghanistan and our border
areas since 2001. The government has not only lost its prestige and its trust but also
the Pakistani military, who previously had a respectable position in the society is
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being termed as enemy and considered a fair target. Many people who joined the
Taliban did not necessarily admire their policies or agree with their brand of religious
teachings but did so for day to day security. The people in the tribal region at large
feel forsaken by their own government. So, in effect in its effort to uproot the
extremists, the government of Pakistan and the US has taken on a large majority of
the Pashtun society.
In both Afghanistan and Pakistan the Pashtun issues have not been managed
properly. This has led to worsening of the Pashtun predicament. The Pashtuns can
handle their problems well if they really take charge of their current plight and
address the issues facing them. They do not need foreign forces to come and
resolve the situation their way. The Pashtuns need to shun obscurantism and Islamic
extremism on both sides of the border. In Afghanistan the Pashtuns have lost their
power base and there
can be no lasting peace
in that country till the
Pashtuns
have
a
political comeback and
claim back their rightful
position in the power
corridors
of
that
country.
interpretation
As
of
the
Quran is a tool used by
the Taliban we can use
the same tool against them and convince the masses regarding the real
interpretation of these verses. It will involve mass education and can be undertaken
with the help of media.
As mentioned above the current problem in Afghanistan and the North
Western region of Pakistan is mainly political. The US and its allies shattered the
Pashtun power base when it conquered Afghanistan and wrongly labeled all
Pushtuns as Talibans and further wrongly labeled all Taliban as Al Qaida. This does
not serve the objectives of the US or its allies. This has triggered the problems being
faced in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan as well. There will never be peace in the
region till the Pashtuns regain their power base. In Afghanistan the Tajik/Uzbek
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dominated government will never give a fair deal to the traditional Pashtuns. Two
wrongs never make a right. The insurgents through suicide bombings are killing and
maiming civilians; mostly, poor bread earners of families, women and children. If we
respond by killing a larger number of innocent civilians, this will strengthen the ranks
of these insurgents, as more and more people will feel marginalized and forsaken by
their own government. The Taliban are today probably much stronger and organized
than they were even at the time they were ruling Afghanistan. This is because at the
start the Taliban were by themselves weak but were able to control the country with
the help of intensive sponsorship from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States and
even UK and the US. Now the Taliban have either developed more or different
sponsors or have specialized in insurgent tactics to the level where they are keeping
the strongest armies of the world at bay. The wrong strategies of the US and its
allies; of which Pakistan is a part, have contributed to this debacle. No further build
up of foreign military is going to resolve the current worsening situation in
Afghanistan. The Pakistani Army can never occupy the tribal areas till they win the
hearts and minds of the Pashtuns and let them rule in their areas. That does not
mean that by using the latest weaponry and superior technology the area cannot be
temporarily conquered. It is an area where maintaining peace is more difficult to
manage after any occupation. It is what happens after the occupation that results in
more death and destruction than that encountered in the actual period of war.
Therefore, it is important to have a comprehensive holistic strategy rather than
flexing our muscles from time to time and not knowing who is the enemy, where is
the enemy, how or what is the best way to tackle the enemy.
The only way that can bring a meaningful and a lasting change in the life of
the poor people of Pakistan and Afghanistan in general and the Pashtuns in
particular is education. The military approach is not a solution for anything.
Investment in education for the people of the region should be at the top of any
policymaker’s mind. There are people in this world who have devoted their lives to
education of those in Pakistan and Afghanistan; who by themselves have no chance
whatsoever to get educated. These people have left their comfort in the West and
spent years to build schools in the remotest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
There are numerous stories of hope and sacrifice. One such example is Greg
Mortenson, who is the pioneer of this noble activity. His book 'Three Cups of Tea'
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November 2009
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gives an account of his endeavors and has been an international bestseller. The
story of Greg Mortenson can be viewed on the link:
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/
Shannon Galpin, another contributor was inspired by Greg and joined in recently in
the mission with her organization 'Mountain to Mountain'. The amazing story of
Shannon Galpin is told below:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/307983...international/
Media is a very important tool and can have a significant affect on the minds
of the world populace. In the past two years the documentary “Son of a lion” has
contributed immensely for portraying the Pashtun culture in the correct perspective.
The numerous TV and Radio interviews given by the Director of the movie; Benjamin
Gilmore towards education of the Western world on the plight of the Pashtuns have
been remarkable. Hardly any Pashtun leader of the current times has come close to
presenting the correct perspective on the plight of the Pashtuns to a wide section of
the western and developed world as well as these people. The educated Pashtuns
should make an effort to use the media. Details of the movie and the organization
working for the development of Pashtuns can be seen via this link:
http://www.sonofalion.com/
We Pashtuns have to rise up to the situation. Doing nothing is not an alternative. We
should take inspiration from our friends; Greg Mortenson, Shannon Galpin and
Benjamin Gilmore.
The writer is a Professional Engineer and has a Master’s degree in Technology
Management. He has been involved in infrastructure development projects and is
presently working in the Public sector in Australia.
SAHAR
November 2009
20 | Page
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PASHTUN CAUSE?
Pir Rokhan
What exactly is the Pashtun Cause? This elemental question has never been
answered comprehensively by anybody nor is there any consensus on what it really
means for us Pashtuns to do to serve this cause. The term Pashtun National Cause
means different things to different people and there are a variety of opinions
regarding this on both sides of the Durand line and among various political parties
with Pashtun nationalist leanings in Pakistan. In fact the notion of Pashtun statehood
itself is grossly misunderstood by most Pashtuns themselves.
Many of us believe that the Pashtuns have a state in Afghanistan and that the
Pashtun belt on the east of Durand Line has to one day merge with Afghanistan to
make it whole. They consider the Durand Line an aberration that has no relevance
and will sooner or later disappear; thus the Pashtuns will have their historical state of
Afghanistan restored as it existed in the 19th century. Others question this notion.
There are others who argue that for a state to be called a ‘Pashtun state', it should
have an absolute majority of the Pashtuns. Thus, Afghanistan is neither a Pashtun
state in its current shape nor is it likely any time soon. For example, the Punjabis
have a state in Pakistan because they are the most numerous and thus use the state
of Pakistan for their own benefits. In Afghanistan, Pashtuns are less than 50%. The
fact of the matter is that Pashtuns; in spite of the fact that they are a nation of more
than 50 million people, do not have a state of their own. They need to have a state in
which they have an overwhelming majority where they will be able to make
legislation reflecting their culture, temperament, and historical experiences.
Otherwise the fear is that in the long run they will lose their distinct identity.
To most Pashtuns, ‘The Pashtun Cause’, in a broader sense, is for them to
become a sovereign, free and respectable nation in the world. There are two major
strands which define the Pashtun cause
a.
The Stability of Afghanistan: The
days of using Afghanistan for strategic
depth against India are gone.
Afghanistan is, and will remain to be a
free and independent sovereign state
despite of the malicious propaganda by
the Punjabi dominated media of Pakistan. Even the sell-out Punjabised
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November 2009
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Pashtuns on the payroll of Pakistani intelligence agencies commonly known as
Taliban could not divide it. Interestingly, even the non-Pashtun Afghans are against
any division of the unitary Afghanistan which has been the graveyard for all those
who tried to ruin and devastate it. As the Durand Line is not acceptable to Pashtuns
on both sides, hence the issue still remains to be resolved between Pakistan and
Afghanistan like the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.
b.
Provincial Autonomy for a United Pashtun Province in Pakistan:
Pashtuns are the most exploited, humiliated ethnic entity in Pakistan.
Today they are being killed in such large number that it is not less than
genocide. They are not only losing their language, culture, identity,
history and glory in Pakistan but their hope of survival. The only way for
the Pashtuns to survive in Pakistan is to unite them within Pakistan in a
united Pukhtunkhwa province consisting of NWFP, FATA, Attock,
Mianwali, Pashtun belt of Baluchistan as has been demanded by the
Pashtun nationalist parties since long. Provincial autonomy is the next
step to make them real stake holders and part of Pakistan. This is the
demand of all three provinces whose resources are being exploited by
Punjab for the last 60 plus years. A true federation is the only way out
for Pakistan. Pashtuns and other oppressed nations, if given their due
share and rights in governance, are not in favour of separation. A large
number of Pashtuns do not support merging with Afghanistan unless
the compulsive forces of history bring it about. The crux of the matter is
that all the nationalities in Pakistan have to be given their due rights
and share in power otherwise Pakistan will disappear from the map of
the world. If these conditions are met; Pashtuns are not in favour of
getting separated from Pakistan. It is a life of dignity, honour and a fair
share of the resources along with preservation of their language,
culture, heritage and identity that Pashtuns demand. But that seems to
be distant possibility in today’s Pakistan which has become a symbol of
dishonour, terrorism, fundamentalism, corruption and de-facto rule of
Punjabi Army and the malicious intelligence agencies.
Hurdles for the Pashtun Cause:
The hurdles to the realization of the Pashtun
Cause are many. Some important ones are:-
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November 2009
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a.
The Pakistani Education System and Media Dominance: The young
Pashtuns are already so mesmerized by the Punjabi/ Mohajir controlled
media like Geo, ARY, PTV, ISPR and AVT Khyber that they hardly
know about their own language, culture and dress code. The study of
“Mutalia Pakistan” which is compulsory at all educational levels in
Pakistan even deprives them of knowledge of their own history and
heroes; so much so that most do not even know who Amir Karor,
Mirwais Neka, Ahmed Shah Baba, Abdul Ahad Momand, Khuhshal
Khan Khattak, Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, Bacha Khan, Sanober
Husain kakajee , Hamza Shinwari etc were?. Even the parts of
Pashtun history included in the Pakistani text books give a distorted
version of the facts. For example, Syed Ahmed Barelvi , who first
introduced the extremist Wahabi version of Islam in the Pashtun belt in
the early 19th century, is portrayed as a hero and the Pashtuns are
accused of being traitors to him in his struggle against the Sikhs. The
case of Bacha Khan the ‘Non –violent’ hero who spent one day out of
every three days of his life in the Pakistani prisons for championing the
Pashtun Cause is hardly known to our young Pashtun generation. The
Pakistanised Pashtuns now only know those puppets as heroes who
were used by the British to create a banana republic for serving their
interests in the cold war using the name of religion. They would parrot
the poems of Allama Iqbal but would seldom know about the great
Pashtun philosopher poet and thinker Ghani Khan. Such is the power
of the state media and syllabus control.
b.
The Power Elite of Pakistan: The elite class of Pakistan consisting of
military and civil bureaucracy is enjoying their lives at the cost of those
innocent, poor, exploited Pashtuns, Balochis and Sindhi labour class
who have been living below poverty line in the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan due to the autocratic rule of Punjabi/Mohajir elite who have
been scaring the people of Pakistan with India-phobia. The fact is that
the Pakistani Punjabis are the same people as their cousins across the
border, people who are no different from the Punjabis of India as both
have the same blood, color, culture, history. Just a few Arabic phrases,
Persian sentences and vulgarized customs and rituals of the mughals,
which the Muslim Punjabis have adopted, are not sufficient to make
SAHAR
November 2009
23 | Page
them different from their cousins living across the border. Enlightened
Pashtuns do not even recognize the version of Punjabi Islam which
justifies killing millions of Afghans and devastating their state to
safeguard their strategic interests dressing it up as Jihad under the
cover of their version of Islam.
Conclusion
The Pashtuns who were made a part of Pakistan as a result of the fraudulent
referendum which is often referred in history books have no option but to rise to get
their due rights. It is time the Pashtuns should weigh their gains and losses after
having been a part of Pakistan for more than half a century. Are we deaf not to hear
the cries and see the miseries of the millions of IDPs as a result of the repeated
military operations? Are we blind not to see the exploitation of our water and power
resources by the state? Will we give an inch of our land to any person of our own
lineage? Here the situation is, Punjab has got all the waters of our rivers and
diverted them to make their lands fertile and left us jobless to beg for petty jobs in the
streets of Punjab? Don’t we see the revenue from our mineral and agricultural
products being used to set up industries elsewhere? Don’t we know that our
electricity and gas is used to run industries in Karachi and Lahore while our homes
remain bleak and cold? Don’t we know that this entire Taliban phenomenon is a
drama generated to sustain the inflow of blood dollars from Uncle SAM? Don’t we
know how Fazlullah's FM radio continued his mass indoctrination of our youth in this
age of technology while the state looked the other way? Are we not aware of Sufi
Mohammad, the hired stooge who has been repeatedly used by establishment to
radicalize our young generation?
It is high time that Pashtuns should stand for their rights and refuse to be
exploited in the name of religion any more. The international political scenario now
needs the unification of Pashtun lands to bring lasting peace to this region.
Intellectualizing our slavery, grabbing our resources, pacifying the natural retaliation
against the usurping of our rights is neither in the national interest of Pashtuns nor
the world at large.
Preferring to be a slave and being proud of it and calling it wisdom is a death
to the Pashtun Cause.
The author is a political analyst based in Saudi Arabia. He can be reached at
[email protected]
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November 2009
24 | Page
WHERE IS PAKISTAN HEADED?
Fatima Ahmed Yousafzai
No one is even counting
any more. We have lost count of
the dead and the injured or how
many suicide blasts occur on daily
basis. Not a day passes that one
after another explosion rocks the
cities and towns of Pukhtunkhwa
and take the lives of scores of
innocent civilians, children and women. But then, death and destruction of this
magnitude is dwarfed by the overall situation in Pakistan in general and
Pukhtunkhwa province, the entire FATA region and Balochistan in particular. Millions
of people have been displaced by the ongoing war, countless dead and injured,
villages and towns turned into rubble and no end to the fighting is in sight yet. After
all this death and destruction, and while the Pakistani army is in the midst of another
military operation against the Taliban in Waziristan, a vast majority of ordinary
Pashtuns as well as many on the international scene do not even believe the army is
fighting a real war against the religious extremists and Taliban, or at the least,
turning a blind eye to the brand of Taliban fighting inside Afghanistan. Local and
international media have all along raised questions about the sincerity of Pakistan in
the war on terror. Majority of the local Pashtuns consider the army and Taliban two
sides of the same coin. When experts seem perplexed about the nature and the fast
pace of events, the uncertainty in the minds of ordinary Pakistanis about their own
and Pakistan’s future is not difficult to
fathom. The complexities of the situation
are even harder for the international
community to comprehend.
Some of the major questions that
arise out of the current turmoil and the
lingering state of anarchy that Pakistan
finds itself in; are being raised by the
SAHAR
November 2009
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international media over the last few years, but the situation now seems to have
gone for the worse due to the current escalation in violence coupled with the political
instability. The primary reason is the apparent inability of the Pakistani state to
govern vast tracts of its territory despite half a dozen years of military operations in
these areas. Then there are the fundamental contradictions of the state like refusal
of the centre dominated by the Punjabi – Mohajir elite to give the small federating
units political autonomy and control over their resources, growing ethnic tensions as
exemplified by the recent furor over the movement of the IDPs outside the
Pukhtunkhwa province, the long standing inequalities between the various provinces
and the hegemony of Punjab
dominated centre on all state
resources.
This
uncertain
and
situation
raises
highly
explosive
many
questions in the minds of
people of the region and
beyond about the long term
prognosis of the Pakistani
state and its survival as a
functioning state.
The
most
pertinent
question being raised in most
quarters is the immediate and
long term future of Pakistan.
This question has become
very relevant in the wake of
the current security situation
in Pukhtunkhwa, FATA, and
Baluchistan and further exasperated by the worsening economic crisis, failure of the
state to address the basic needs of the citizens like education, health care but most
of all, access to justice and rule of law. These factors indicate that in the near future
continued internal chaos, discord and political instability are a certainty. The
marginalization of minority communities, ethnic tensions, and class struggle will
further aggravate the situation unless immediate remedial steps are taken, which are
nowhere visible on the horizon.
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November 2009
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The situation will be further compounded by the continued acrimony with its
neighbours. The Indian Government has repeatedly made it clear that the composite
dialogue will not be re-started unless the perpetrators of the Bombay carnage are
brought to justice. This Pakistan can not do, because it will mean cutting off links
with the Jihadi organizations in Punjab which are primarily focused on India as
Pakistan considers India its primary adversary in the long term. The strained
relations with Afghanistan are well known but the latest blow to the regional harmony
has been the acrimony with Iran, arising out of the terrorist activities of the shadowy
terrorist organization ‘Jundullah’, which Iran accuses for the recent suicide blasts in
Iran resulting in killing of several senior Revolutionary Guards officers. Even China
has been perturbed about the links of the Punjab based Jihadi organizations to
extremist elements in its own ethnic Uighurs in the Xinjiang province. According to
Shaun Gregory, the head of the Pakistan Security Research Unit at the University of
Bradford in Britain, the Chinese concerns about a possible threat to the Karakorum
Highway was as much of a factor in Islamabad's decision to take on the Taliban in
Swat as was U.S. pressure about terrorism or local concerns of law and order. Thus,
for the foreseeable future, Pakistan will most probably stay in a constant state of
turmoil, with enhanced level of violence resulting from religious extremism, ethnic
tensions, acrimony with neighbors and economic chaos. Hopefully Pakistan will be
propped up by the USA, the West and the Arab Sheikhdoms, but only. The long term
future after the US interests in the region vain, are anybody’s guess.
The above concerns if not
addressed immediately could
mean
a
Yougoslavia
like
situation for Pakistan in the mid
term. This brings us to the
logical question that: is the
current
Pakistani
leadership
capable of bringing the country
out of the current turmoil? The
answer to this question doesn’t
need any deep thinking. Recent surveys by several international organisations
suggest that the majority of common Pakistanis do not consider Mr Zardari and his
team of ministers which is dominated by feudal lords; capable of taking the country
out of the current crisis. Even the alternate Nawaz Sharif has serious limitations
SAHAR
November 2009
27 | Page
because - firstly he himself has a rightist agenda and can not be expected to take on
his ideological allies and Taliban, secondly his political appeal outside his home
Punjab province is limited. Analysts believe it is only the international support that
keeps the Zardari government in power and stops the powerful army from taking a
presidential ride for at least another decade. The army may not be in power, but its
preeminent role in the domestic political scene, foreign policy and the war on terror
remains undeterred. Political parties, their leadership, government and even the
people of Pakistan remain irrelevant.
Zardari gets lots of bashing from the right wing pro establishment Pakistani
media and does not see eye to eye with the army on many issues, however, it is
important to note, that the PPP remains the only party with its populist manifesto and
following in all provinces, which can negotiate a ‘New Social Contract’ with the
federating units and different ethnicities/communities. And the need for a new social
contract increasingly appears to be a pre-requisite for the long term survival of
Pakistan.
Will Taliban take over Islamabad? This question is on everyone’s mind in
major capitals around the world today. This is a misplaced perception. The Taliban
can not take over Islamabad in a classic sense, neither have they shown any
intention so far to do that. Some analysts argue that Taliban were unable to take
over any part of Pakistan, except with the tacit approval and logistics provided by the
Pakistani and some foreign intelligence agencies. But this should not be taken as a
good omen; for the Taliban are nothing without the ideology of religious extremism
and that ideology in itself is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s policy. In other words,
Taliban are already in Islamabad, it is only that in appearance; they are not like the
bearded ones shown by the media to
be operating in places like Swat and
FATA. For example, the Mullahs of
the ‘Red Mosque’ in Islamabad were
not Taliban from FATA or Swat , yet
they paralyzed Islamabad, the capital
of a nuclear armed Pakistan for
weeks in July 07, before the mosque
was stormed by the commandos of
Pakistan
Army,
resulting
in
the
deaths of hundreds of people. There are innumerable such mosques and madrassas
SAHAR
November 2009
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in every nook and corner of all major urban centers of Pakistan and anyone of these
can become another ‘Red Mosque’.
Following from this arises the question; that if the Taliban sympathizers can
take over Islamabad, hypothetically speaking; can they make a real Islamist
government (Caliphate a la Afghanistan of the late 90s?) bringing the entire country
under their control? Or is an Iranian style theocracy possible in an ethnically,
politically and religiously fractured society like Pakistan? This is the most interesting
question. There can not be a real Islamist government, a la Iran like theocracy in
Pakistan for a number of reasons. The vast majority of the common people living in
the urban areas of Pakistan, even in the militancy affected Pukhtunkhwa province do
not want such kind of a system. This has been amply proved by the results of
successive elections over the last two decades. Even in Swat, where the recent
operation against the extremist Taliban was launched, people overwhelmingly voted
for the secular minded and liberal Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples
Party (PPP) and not the religious parties who are sympathetic to the Taliban.
Similarly, the problems in Balochistan are not driven by religious extremism.
Therefore, paradoxically the diversity of issues might be precisely what makes it
likely for Pakistan to fall apart in the event of an Islamists take over. Had the
transition to an overtly Islamist system been easily possible, there wouldn't have
been this crisis in the first place.
There are also various maps and scenarios floating around talking of an
eventual break up of Pakistan. These speculations are not unfounded as some
circles in Pakistan would like us to believe. Is there a real danger that Pakistan will
breakup? Well, in the short term the US, China, India and the west might not allow
this to happen and prop Pakistan up because it is not in their interest nor is the
global environment ready for the ensuing turmoil of a nuclear state breaking up
Yugoslavia style. However, in the mid to long term this is very much likely. Some
with vested interests might say why not now? They argue that it is the right occasionbut then only if there was no global economic recession, Afghanistan was stabilized
enough, Iran was not a problem and victory in Iraq had been won. If nothing else
many will consider it an opportune moment to go for
de-capacitating
Pakistani
nukes
as
soon
as
possible.
What will be the regional and international
ramifications of Pakistan as a failed state? What
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November 2009
29 | Page
good and bad might come out of its break up? What will happen to the nuclear
weapons capabilities? Hopefully, Pakistan's nuclear weapons will be secured
through willing consent of the military high ups and Political elites who see their
personal fortunes linked with the West in a situation like that. In the long term, there
are likely to be many good consequences. A more stable and benign region with no
competing powers seems to be one of the major positive outcomes. India and China
are mature enough to maintain peace for their own benefit in view of their global
aspirations and fast developing economies. A natural result will be the formation of
homogenous Pashtun and Baloch states in addition to the existing Punjab, parts of
Sindh and Azad Kashmir comprising Pakistan, and possibly a free Port City of
Karachi under the MQM, who have already shown their intent to keep others out of
the city.
The short term consequences of such a scenario are nightmarish; not very
difficult to imagine but too frightening even to discuss. There is going to be a lot of
bloodshed. Imagine the fate of the 3 million Pashtuns living in Karachi and Punjab,
hundreds of thousands of Punjabis living in Baluchistan and Pukhtunkhwa. A rough
idea can be taken from the events of 12th of May 2007 in Karachi and IDPs
movement out of Pukhtunkhwa Province in the wake of military operations in 2009.
Karachi is a flashpoint where all the ingredients for a huge fire exist in close
proximity- and the fire will spread quickly to other
cities like Quetta, Peshawar, interior Sindh and
the major cities of Punjab. Punjab it is likely to be
the least effected. This is scary even to think of,
yet the wisdom of USA, Europe, China and
Russia as well as the regional powers must come
in here. How can the transition take place with the
least
possible
violence
and
damage?
The
subsequent settlement whereby the various
neighbours are at peace with themselves and
with the (states) around them is a question that
must agitate most sane minds in the region as
well the world capitals.
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November 2009
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How will such a peaceful transition affect India and Afghanistan, the two most
affected neighbours of Pakistan and the region as a whole? This is not a difficult
question - only if, and it is a big ‘If’, a peaceful transition can be made. Afghanistan
will be the biggest beneficiary for the obvious reason that the source of historical
trouble in that country will be no more. And obviously the Pashtuns will return into
their natural fold Afghanistan, a wholeness that is necessary if there has to be a
sustainable peace in the region. India, in the short term may be the loser, with
millions of radicalized Muslims, who have been fed on Indian hate for decades,
swarming its borders. It is
obvious that it will be very
difficult for these millions to
reconcile with the fact that they
have to become a satellite
state or worse become a part
of India. In the long term,
however, it will be a great
advantage for India as well as
the
millions
of
Muslim
Punjabies and Sindhies and
Mohajirs. With their routes to
the energy resources of Gulf and Central Asia secure, their major military adversary
no more and their regional position strengthened will be a dream come true scenario
for India. They will also have more internal cohesion with the centrifugal tendencies
dying down slowly, provided the Indian secularism gains strength and the political
system continues to be inclusive as it reflected in the recent elections.
Fatima Ahmed Yousafzai holds Masters in Political Science from the University of
Peshawar and Masters in Security & Strategic Studies from the University of
Auckland.
She
is
a
freelance
writer
and
can
be
reached
at
[email protected]
SAHAR
November 2009
31 | Page
CYCLE TEACHER
Shehroz Khan
Cycle was the tool, and luxury you may call it, in the early days of our school
time, and very few were able to afford this luxury. The school teachers were among
the few who used bikes efficiently. These teachers had an effective role in educating
the Pashtun youth as these teachers used to be regarded as something more than
teachers. They were our role models, honest, simple, patient and full of dedication.
Students could not go un-instructed even on their town streets during holidays
whenever a teacher turned up accidentally on their way. Their dedication and
sincerity to the job was of such exemplary standard, that these teachers were very
highly regarded in the society and used to be subjects of discussion and quotes in
our Hujras for most of the times. I vividly remember the school where I matriculated
from; an E-shaped building in red brick, was the centre of attraction for the young
and old alike. I still remember that bright afternoon in the late 1950’s - a few elders
were telling us kids a story, while the students were busy doing their arithmetic sums
under the supervision of the teacher in charge. While doing an arithmetic exercise,
the teacher got stuck in a point and couldn’t get through as best as he tried. During
this time a student raised his hand up, requesting if he could come forward to solve
the problem. The teacher was glad to allow him and he was very quick to attempt
and solve the problem promptly. The class and the teachers both were unaware that
SAHAR
November 2009
32 | Page
they were being watched by the principal of the school who was on a normal corridor
visit in this E-shaped building. The principal was so delighted that he jumped out
through the side-window opening into the corridor, and started asking the student to
climb over his shoulder. Of course the boy remained hesitant; but the principal
insisted repeatedly until the boy did not have the courage to refuse the offer any
further.
The principal gripped the boy and pushed him up to perch smoothly on his
back with his legs crossing over on both sides of the principal’s shoulders. The boy
was given a ride around the corridor, with the principal running with the boy on his
shoulders chanting “we want our students to be like this boy”.
The great talent of the existing Pashtun scholars serving the world
community can be rightly attributed to these CYCLE TEACHERS, who were known
and remembered with respect as heroes in the educated and parental community
alike particularly in the country side. Government High Schools of Takkar and Tangi,
Utmanzai, Khanmahee and Charsadda were particularly known and popular for such
CYCLE TEACHERS, and it is with great nostalgia that one feels the need to revive
that culture of CYCLE TEACHERS to bring real education back to our youth. Our
emphasis must be on pre-university level education that can play a key role in
rejuvenating our zest for education of international level and will undoubtedly
produce a broad-based education culture tiding and spreading out multilaterally.
Sheroz Khan was born in Nawai Wadana. He was educated for his primary,
middle and high level of school in Mandani, Harichand, and Tangi respectively. He
graduated from the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology with a BSc in
Electrical Engineering (1982). He has been working as an engineering faculty
member at the International Islamic University Malaysia since 2000.
SAHAR
November 2009
33 | Page
Section 2 : Literature
"HOPE OR DECEIT......???"
Azra Nafees
The Spring has arrived
with pretty pansies and daisies.
How splendid!!!!!!
An expanse of brightness,
an expanse of whiteness.
But I'm locked and frozen
in the time zone.
Burried under a million fears
and heaps of worries amid lots of tears.
I can see some moving images,
Are these people or mere shadows?
Admiring the brightness of the flowers,
and breathing in their sweet aromas.
Touching,seeing and smelling
the perfect little buds.
But I can't see any colour I bet
neither do I smell the scent.
All I can see in my flower beds
are the mushrooming flowers of success.
Soaked with the tears of struggle,
Sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice.
The more the buds bloom into flowers,
The little the fruit of actions become.
O my fellas!
O Pukhtuns!
What is really happening to us?
We are burning in the scorching heat
of some invisible flames.
Who is adding fuel to this fire?
burning our lush green Vales...
I think deeply and profoundly
but repeatedly fail to figure out.
O my Lord!
O my Master!
Time is turning the pages quickly.
my pen is flowing,
but I can't inscribe.
It haunts my soul
and takes my breath,mate!
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November 2009
34 | Page
When I think about us and
visualise my fate.
O my brethern!
O brave Pukhtuns!
No matter how you are hurt,hated
hunted or humiliated....
That's my firm belief,
You are going to get relief.
You are a brave and gallant Nation
with a history thousands of years or more!
You can never be crushed like this.
We shall team up on our very Land,
together with a hand in hand.
As when the mellow redness
of the rising Sun,
emerges from behind the mountains
and with its warmth and tender touch.
All the daisies open their dazzling buds.
As when the stars stud in the night ,up high
And with the falling of the soft dew
from the heaven and the sky.
These little daisies increase in number.
The heavy hooves of the horses and oxen
crushes these flowers time and again.
but every time these beds are trampled
a touch of green appears again.
Let me tell u loud and clear
all my friends whether far or near.
Pukhtun's struggle is very well known,
It's as much real as flesh and bone.
“The writer is a teacher trainer by profession and the Editor of the monthly magazine
SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns”
SAHAR
November 2009
35 | Page
PUKHTUN’S SAADAR
Muhammad Arif
Attired in tatters though
Yet a grace is there.
For with his saadar on
No Monster does he fear.
‘Tis not a mere cloth,
A second skin is it?
Blue grey green and white
All colours seem to fit.
A piece of cloth belittles
The worth this label has.
The turbans reach the skies
Really is like a coil ablaze.
The bride in the palanquin
Feels safe under its grace.
Like guardian Angel
When tied to her lace.
Folded upon the shoulder,
The farmer ploughs the soil.
SAHAR
November 2009
36 | Page
All it means for him,
The rhythm of the toil.
No carpet does he need,
When it’s time to pray.
On the green or near the river,
The saadar he can lay.
Some bear fiancée’s name
Of passions a lovely tale,
Of loyalty, warmth and love
Reflected from her coy veil.
At Jirga or in Hujra,
In mirth or at play,
This weaved resemblance
A Pukhtun’s display.
Now there is no shelter,
Save the blind deaf sky.
Saadar’s the only canopy,
Muffles the innocent cry.
Muhammad Arif hails from Tangi in Charsadda and holds a Masters Degree in
English.An active member of AIRRA who works in Islamabad and writes articles and
poems for different Pashtun forums
SAHAR
November 2009
37 | Page
AKHTAR
Imad Ullah Khiyal
Sok da Akhtar da para Zan joravi,
Sok panjedaari sok Bootaan joravi.
Da cha sengar wi tar sahara jaari,
Sok tar pa tar sere Grewaan joravi.
Sok shonde sre lasuna sra garzavi,
Sok naray poze la pezwaan joravi.
Der bewatana armani de watan,
Da tarmo ohko Cheraghan joravi.
Mong badqismata khpal Naseeb jaravi,
Qismat khwarah da yar Zulfan jorawi.
Sok pa sangal da yar khoboona kavi,
KHIYAL tasveroona da Janaan jorawi.
The writer hails from Charsadda, NWFP. He holds a
Master’s Degree in Pashto Language from the
University of Peshawar and is working as an
Executive Secretary in Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority, Islamabad. He can be contacted at
[email protected]
SAHAR
November 2009
38 | Page
Z’MA MOR (MY MOTHER)
Ata Khan
It was a rainy day
Driving back home
The car steered me
Towards you
Your grave…
Can I forget,
How much you liked the rain?
The white
Wet
Marble of your grave,
Sparkled like your smile.
Every falling drop,
Bounced to embrace me.
I could feel you, and
How happy you were,
But I could also hear you
Say this
Very clearly,
‘Za bachiya baraan de(Go my child, it’s raining}
And you don’t have an umbrella’.
The writer hails from Batagram. He is a journalist by profession and is presently
working as a free lance writer. He has also worked as a producer with different
international news channels
SAHAR
November 2009
39 | Page
MAAT SAANGOONA - A BOOK REVIEW
Kahlil Gibran’s “The Broken Wings” translated into Pashto
Quraysh Khattak
Pashto is one of the oldest languages in South Asia. Poetry books in Pashto
had been and are being published in abundance. But little attention is given to prose
writing in Pashto. Prose books in the language are rarely published.
It is a universal rule that writers borrow from other languages to enrich their
own with new ideas and thoughts.
Dr. Khaliq Ziar, a physician by profession and a published Pashto poet, has
translated three books, two books on the history of Pashtoons and most recently a
novel, The Broken Wings written by Kahlil Gibran, from English into Pashto.
Literature lovers will agree that The Broken Wings, first published in 1912, is
one of the greatest love stories ever told and written. It reads like the best poetry,
written in prose like the poetic prose of Rabindranath Tagore in Beganli Language
and Sulaiman Laiq’s in Pashto.
SAHAR
November 2009
40 | Page
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was born in Lebanon. He lived in the USA, which
he made his home during the last twenty years of his life. His writings have been
translated into many languages and his paintings have been exhibited in several
places of the world.
The Broken Wings, originally written in Arabic, has been translated into
several languages of the world. In the novel, Gibran touches upon a variety of
subjects like love, women’s predicament, double standards of self serving religious
leaders, and true prayer and sacrifice.
Dr. Khaliq Ziar has translated the book with a matching mastery of words into
Pashto. While reading the eloquent Pashto version, one gets an impression as if the
translator has himself gone through the same experience. The use of classic and
pure Pashto words and phrases in the translation has completely Pukhtoonized the
novel.
The translator has painted images with an evocative narration which by no
means are less beautiful than that of Gibran’s. The novel seems a story of two
Pukhtoon lovers where finally the girl sacrifices her love and life for the sake of her
commitment to her father and to the established traditions and norms of her society.
Her word, “help me, my Lord, to be strong in this deadly struggle and assist me to be
truthful and virtuous until death,” symbolizes unsung sacrifices of many women in
our society.
The novel is more relevant to conditions of women in Pukhtoon society today.
Women in our society are still helpless and voiceless like the bird with broken wings
in a cage. And how true are Gibran’s words about our religious leaders when he
says: “Who clutch their prey with many tentacles and suck their blood with numerous
mouths.”
In the foreword, the translator has pinpointed these two darker sides of our
society. He says the aim behind translating this book into Pashto is to create
awareness among Pukhtoons for the elimination of these evils.
The deep, dark and oddly designed cover of this fabulous book shows that
printers and title designers in Peshawar are wanting in this vital book-making art and
need to do much more efforts to catch up with the rest of the world.
SAHAR
November 2009
41 | Page
Maat Sangoona is a pleasant addition to Pashto prose books and a must read for
those who want to have a taste of Gibran’s thoughts in Pashto language.
Maat Sangoona (The Broken Wings)
By Kahlil Gibran
Translated by Dr. Khaliq Ziar
Abaseen Press, Peshawar
92 pp. Rs. 100
Dr. Khaliq Ziar is a doctor by profession, a published Pashto poet and a well known
literary figure in Pashto literary circles of Pukhtoonkhwa.
Dr. ziar’s Books
1- "Talwasay" (Poetry)
2- Da Khawara Au Da Khalak (Translation)
3- Da Pukhtano Baghawatoona (Translation)
4- Maat Saangoona (Translation)”
Maat Saangoona is reviewed by Quraysh Khattak. He is a freelance writer currently
associated with an Islamabad-based NGO
SAHAR
November 2009
42 | Page
Emerging Pashtun Talent - Speenghar Ahmadzai
Speenghar Ahmadzai is a young Afghan
activist, writer and poet of Pashto language
living in Peshawar. He was born in an
enlightened and educated laghmani family of
Gul Aziz Ahmadzai in Kabul on 8th may 1990.
He migrated with his family to Peshawar
when he was very young. In 2004, when he
was just about 14-15 years old, he founded a
group of young Afghans by the name of
“Afghana Tollena”, which aimed to work for the development of Pashto Language,
Pashtun culture and preservation of Afghan history. Gradually, he added many
pashtun youths to his team. In 2006, he started an online information website by the
name of www.speengharonline.com
which he designed himself. This website
focuses on Afghanistan and Pashtuns. In the same year, he appeared in his
secondary school exam and passed with flying colors. In 2008, he passed his
intermediate exam. He started writing his first book about 46 great Afghan
personalities at the age of 18, just after his intermediate exams. In 2009, he
completed and published his first book “Da Wiyaroono Laraye” “‫ ”د و
ړو ۍ‬which
has become very popular amongst the Pashtun readers. The same year, he
attended the first International Pashto Conference held in the Afghan capital Kabul.
He has now joined the University of Peshawar to study Political Science and
Law. As a socially active person, he loves to write patriotic poems for his country
Afghanistan and Pashtuns. He is bestowed with a creative mind which he has
rightfully used to work for the promotion of Pashtuns, Pashto language and the
Pashtun cause. At the young age of 19, he is an enlightened and progressive
Pashtun youth with immense potential, who can truly be held as a role model. He
has also been interviewed by media outlets like Voice of America (VOA) Deewa
Radio and Shamshad TV for his great talent. Presesntly, he is working on his second
book about the origin of Pashtuns. We wish him success in his endeavours.
SAHAR
November 2009
43 | Page
AfghanA TollenA Logo
“Da Wiyaroono Laraye” “‫”د و
ړو ۍ‬
Speenghar Ahmadzai With Habibullah Rafih
In Pashto International Conference
SAHAR
November 2009
44 | Page
Section 3 : Art & Entertainment
An Interview with Zeek Afridi
From Tirah in Kurram Agency in FATA, the
good-looking and soft-spoken Zahid Khan Afridi,
popularly known as Zeek, stepped into the
limelight as a solo singing artist, hitting the
mainstream with his evergreen remix song “Bibi
Shireeney”.
When Zeek Afridi sang Bibi
Sheerinay, everyone from children to grown ups
joined in the chorus. The song has not just
become an anthem of the undying Pashto spirit, but its catchy beat has conquered
the entire music scene.
With twinkling eyes and a winning smile, Zeek Afridi (ZA) agreed to catch up with
Editor SAHAR (ES) and share his tales of music journey with his fans and readers
across the globe. Happy Reading!!!
ES: Salamoona Zeek!
ZA: Walaikum Salam Azra!
ES: Tell us something about yourself.
ZA: Well, I am Zahid Khan Afridi. I was born in Peshawar on 1st of April. I received
my early education from Federal Government Public School Peshawar. Later I joined
the University of Peshawar and got Masters Degree in Computer Sciences. I also
have a Diploma in Business Administration from the Manchester College, United
Kingdom.
ES: When did you realize that you had a talent for music? Which was your first
song?
ZA: I was doing my BSc, when I sang my first song. It was an Indian song by Lata
Mangeshkar, Doori Na Rahay Koi.
ES: Did you have any flair for music during your school days or when you were very
young?
ZA: Well, I always wanted to perform on stage during my school days but being an
introvert child, I would not dare to make a public show of my talent.
SAHAR
November 2009
45 | Page
ES: Is there anyone else in the music industry from your family?
ZA: No, I am the first one to break into this field.
ES: How did your family react when you decided to join the music Industry?
ZA: Well, to be very frank, initially, my family showed resistance and was averse to
music but seeing my passion for music, things settled down with the passage of
time.
ES: Is music more of a passion
or profession to you?
ZA: Music is more of a passion
with
me.
As
most
Pukhtun
youngsters had almost given up
listening
to
Pashto
songs,
I
wanted to bring them back to their
cultural roots. I don’t want to
make music my profession as
sometimes adopting an art as a
profession robs one of his talent.
ES: Did you go to any music school?
ZA: Yes, I did go to a music school in Peshawar, which was run by an Afghan music
teacher, Ehsan. It was there that I learnt the intricacies of music.
ES: Zeek, how would you define good music?
ZA: Well, Azra, there should always be a deep-rooted relationship between the soul
and one’s passion for music. Whenever the opportunity arises for these two to
become one, the result is always great music.
ES: Who were your biggest musical influences?
ZA: I like many but those who really influenced me are Nashanas, Ahmed Zahir,
Kishore Kumar and Muhammad Rafi.
ES: When you sang your first song, you couldn’t have predicted that much success.
What was your take on it at the time?
ZA: I recorded my first song in November 2004, which was very well received by
everyone. It was really an incredible feeling which is hard to express.
SAHAR
November 2009
46 | Page
ES: Most young people who become famous as performers start off with their work
quite early in life but since you took up singing quite late, how did it feel when your
dream came true as a successful glamorous singer?
ZA: Well, obviously I felt really good as in no time I was representing my province on
special occasions and events like 14th August etc. I performed nationally as well as
internationally, so the feeling was of course good.
ES: When did your release your first solo album? How many albums have you
released so far?
ZA: My first album was released in 2005 and did a record business. I have released
two albums so far; Bibi Shireeney and Shrang.
ES:
Do you have any future plans to re-record/re-mix any more archive songs
seeing the current trend? I think an album under your own name, singing the presung songs would be terrific!
ZA: I do have
plans to remix
the
archive
songs as our
new
generation
hasn’t
heard
the legendary
and melodious
songs. I think
it’s
good
remix
to
or
remake those
great
pieces.
Ever
since
Bibi Shireeney
grabbed great appreciation not only in Pashtun community but among the nonspeakers too, I think to go about singing archives songs with a new feel and touch.
SAHAR
November 2009
47 | Page
ES: So would you give the old songs a new beat and rhythm?
ZA: No, It is not only about remixing old songs with new electronic beats but a
rebirth of old songs altogether, while the essence remains the same.
ES: Do you believe in Riyadh (practice)?
ZA: Yes, of course. I do two hours’ riyadh daily. It is impossible to maintain one’s
voice quality without it. Riyadh is to the music what the soul is to the body.
ES: How did the idea of singing Bibi Shireeney strike to you?
ZA:
Bibi Sheeriney is originally a wedding song mostly sung by women. But a
famous Afghan singer and music director, Gul Zaman picked it up in the early 1960s
and Khiyal Mohammad sang it for Peshawar radio in the ’70s, and it was my friend,
Irfan Khan
who suggested to me to
remix
the
older version of
Bibi
Shireeney.
ES: You sang the Urdu version of Bibi Shireeney too, didn’t you?
ZA: Yes, I did the Urdu version as well with the help of Humayoun Khan, a friend of
mine and a pop singer himself.
ES: Are you also involved in writing lyrics and producing music?
ZA: Besides singing, I have produced a few songs. Since I am a bit weak in writing
lyrics; I give ideas to the lyricist and then leave the job to him.
SAHAR
November 2009
48 | Page
ES: Can you play any musical instruments?
ZA: Yes, I can play Tabla, Rabab, Guitar, and Harmonium.
ES: Time has changed a lot since you started in the business…significantly because
of the internet. Has it helped or hindered the music profession in general?
ZA: Well, it’s good for the audience living abroad as they can’t get hold of the music
album as it is released but it’s a great financial loss to the releasing companies and
singers.
ES: Now I must ask you the age-old question. What does a young person, looking to
break into the business, need to realize his goals? Many aspiring singers have talent
but no links and contacts. How would you advise such a person who may be reading
this to proceed?
ZA: Well, as for the emerging singers it is advised to listen to the music as much as
they can as one can learn from listening to the song and singing with it. Joining a
music school will also help them significantly.
ES: Any particular song writer with whom you would like to collaborate?
ZA: Mr. Fazle Subhan Abid and Mr.Rehmat Shah Sael are two guys whom I would
love to work with.
SAHAR
November 2009
49 | Page
ES: Which do like doing the best? State in order: Producing, recording, composing,
performing live?
ZA: Performing live, Composing, Recording, Producing.
ES: Did you go out on any international tour to promote your albums?
ZA: Basically, I prefer to go to concerts rather than promoting albums abroad. In
near future, I plan to release my new album which has a collection of Urdu, Pashto
and Persian songs.
ES: Do you have any plans to hold shows
abroad in near future?
ZA: Yes, different organizers are contacting
me from Germany, Denmark and Dubai so
hopefully will hold concerts there soon.
ES: What are your current projects?
ZA: Well, I am currently working on a
peace song KAR DA GULO KA (As you
sow so shall u reap is the concept),
recording a song for a Pashto movie and
recording my 3rd solo album.
ES: How much loss have you suffered so
far due to the current situation in the
country, as many renowned singers were
forced to leave the country for risk of lives?
ZA: It is indeed a great loss. I agree that
many singers and musicians left the country for risk of lives. Most of the singers were
being threatened to leave the music as music shops were blown up in different
areas. It is very unfortunate. We are still struggling in this situation as the music
market is damaged. There is no music shop open in Swat, Kohat, Bannu,
Parachinar, Miranshah which are considered to be the main areas for selling the
Pashtu music albums.
ES: Which direction you think your career is taking you to?
Touring, TV, Recording, Live concerts or any other?
ZA: Well, I like to work with Media. Currently, I am working as a media director with
PHIRO, a human rights organization in Islamabad and really want to engage myself
with TV and Radio.
SAHAR
November 2009
50 | Page
ES: Tell your readers something about your personal life. Are you engaged?
ZA: Well, for the time being, I am not engaged. (Smiles)
ES: Any message you want to leave for your fans?
ZA: My Message is wherever you guys are, stay happy. I personally believe in hard
work so whatever you guys are doing, do it with motivation and hard work. It really
pays off.
ES: How can your fans reach you?
ZA: I have a website and anybody can visit that. The link is:
http://www.zeekafridi.net
ES: Thanks, Zeek, for being with SAHAR.
ZA: The pleasure is all mine, Azra.
SAHAR
November 2009
51 | Page
TOUGH AS OLD BOOTS
Muhammad Ismail
Famous for its shine, style and long life, ‘Charsadwali saplay’ — as the name
suggests are sling back men’s sandals made in the Charsadda district. Over the last
several years, these have gained popularity among men from all walks of life,
throughout the country and particularly among the Pukhtuns in the NWFP.
Dealers claim that these sandals/saplay are bought all over the country and are even
being exported to United Arab Emirates.
These sandals/saplay are made of leather in a variety of colours and designs.
The most reliable and trusted leather among the users of the locally made footwear
are ‘Highkurram’ and ‘Cutpiece’, while the popular designs are ‘Cut-shape’, ‘Golshape’ and ‘China-broad’. However, ‘Highkurram’ is most popular with makers and
users of the Charsadda due to durability and toughness.
High-Kurram and Cutpiece are available in black, brown and mustard, while
Sabar(Swede), another type of leather is available in numerous colours including,
black, brown, light blue, mustard, yellowish-brown and green. There are a number of
steps involved in the making of Charsadwali sapaly, that include preparation of the
sole, cutting leather depending on the style and demand of the user, stitching,
SAHAR
November 2009
52 | Page
pasting soft material on the soles for comfort
and polishing, before it becomes the final
product.
Haji Tehmash Khan, a local dealer of
the Charsadwali Saplay, has been running
the business for the last 45 years. According
to him, until a few years ago the popularity of
these shoes was confined to the residents of
Charsadda and Peshawar districts. Today the
sandals/saplay are in demand throughout the country and people also send them
abroad as gifts to family and friends.
Traders from Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Karachi have been
purchasing sandals/Saplay from his shop for several years. The average life of these
sandals/saplay range between five to seven years, depending on the quality of
leather used. “The sandals/saplay need to be protected from water as it harms
leather and reduces its life,” he explained.
Talking about the supply of leather
for manufacture of shoes, he said most
dealers
buy
Highkurram
and
Sabar
leathers from local markets of Peshawar,
Karachi and Mardan while Cutpiece is
being imported from China. “Leather of all
types is primed at local industries of the
province except the shiny, thick surface
which is made in China,” he explained.
He
said
the
customers
have
numerous choices with regard to style, cost and quality while buying the footwear.
“They may buy a pair of sandals off the shelf or may place an order according to
their foot size and a style that they like,” he added.
“Though prices depend on the quality of leather and other items used in its
manufacture, the rates generally range between PKR.400 to PKR.1,000 per pair.
SAHAR
November 2009
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High-quality leather used to be available at low rates in the local market, but
nowadays leather prices have gone up while the quality has gone down.
“Most of our customers demand sandals/saplay made of High kurram which is about
PKR.170 per square feet in the local markets. Shoe stitching is also done on high
payment due to inflation. Prices of other necessary items needed for the
manufacture of Charsadwali Saplay like the sole, buckles, rings and threads have
also shot up.
Another
dealer,
Inayatullah
said that nowadays people across
the
country
are
buying Charsadda-made
also
footwear
and it has become the business and
a livelihood of many residents and
dealers
of
Charsadda.These
sandals/saplay
are
demand throughout
in fairly
the
good
year
but
shoots up for the Eid season.
Rashid Ali, a customer buying Charsadwali Saplay at a local shop, said he
liked the footwear due to several reasons. “The chappals/saplay are easily available
at affordable rates.They are durable, shiny, fashionable, soft and comfortable. With
polish,
saplay
regain
shine
even
after
long
usage,”
he
added.
Sifatullah, another buyer believes that other footwear is neither so cheap nor durable
like the Charsadwali Saplay. “I bought mine three years ago and even today they
shine
like
I
bought
them
just
now,”
he
added.
The business could attract users and customers throughout the country if the
government
would
facilitate
dealers
and
experts
of
shoe-making.
It will also help reduce unemployment in the district and other areas if people are
provided short-term interest-free loans for establishing their own business.
Muhammad Ismail hails from Gulbela, Peshawar. He is a free-lance journalist and
writes articles for different English language newspapers.
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November 2009
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ABOUT US
Welcome to SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns-a monthly publication that
commits to engage with the ever-evolving and increasingly significant paradigm in
Pashtun thought and psyche transformation.
The need of SAHAR was felt due to the ever increasing misconceptions about
Pashtuns in the region and the criticality of the same in the development of various
stereotypes about Pashtun nation in general. SAHAR is an initiative to engage the
Pashtun intelligentsia and youth, both at home and in the Diaspora with the aim to
discuss Pashtun issues and contribute to a more informed debate on the Pashtun
question on both sides of the Durand Line. The Magazine also intends to provide a
forum to our youth to remain in touch with their culture, art and literature and at the
same time, to illustrate a softer image of the Pashtuns to the outer world.
On another level, and more importantly, it is of particular relevance to mention
that SAHAR aims to provide input to the policy and decision makers in the
public/private sector both at home and abroad by providing a more authentic and
indigenous debate and analysis on the various aspects of the crises currently being
faced in the region.
Finally, SAHAR will act as a platform to bring out the immense talent in our
youth and make them stakeholders in the debate with the long term aim of preparing
them for leadership role in the future.
It is our hope that the contributions in SAHAR will help burnish and restore the
credibility and essence of true Pashtun society while also proving useful to provide
input to policy making in the region.
SAHAR works in association with Aryana Institute for Regional Research and
Advocacy (AIRRA) in Pakistan and Pashtun Peace Forum ( PPF) Canada and PPF
(UK).
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GUIDELINES FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSION
SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns welcomes article submissions by all,
particularly Pashtuns, regardless of their age, location, creed, caste, as intend to
become the real ‘Voices of Pashtuns’. If you have an article you think would be
suitable for publication in SAHAR, please send an e-mail with the subject heading
“Submission” to the editor at [email protected]
Articles that adhere to the guidelines given below shall be considered for publication.
Please remember that SAHAR does not pay for submissions as we work as a
volunteer team.
Content
You can write on any subject that relates to Pashtun issues (ie Pashtun
history, politics, geo-politics, economy, society, current affairs and contemporary
issues, culture, war/peace, leadership, interviews of Pashtun celebrities, travelogues,
cuisine, art and heritage or anything that revolves around Pashtuns). If you want to
know first whether we would be interested in featuring your article before you write it,
e-mail your proposal to us at the given mailing address and we will be glad to
discuss it.
SAHAR seeks fact-based analysis and opinions but well-thought out views or
arguments that are well supported will have a much better chance of being featured.
If you source information used in your article, you must mention the source at the
end of the article or provide footnotes. Please facts check your work. Particularly if
your article is about something controversial, it’s best to provide sources to support
your assertions.
Format
Please attach articles as a Word document with your email. Please singlespace and do not indent. Type your articles in Aerial Style, Size12 font. Also send
photos if any with relevant captions. Submitted articles should be final drafts. Please
take care to proofread your own work before submitting it. If you think that your
English is not up to the mark, the editor will be happy to work with you provided
sufficient time is available.
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November 2009
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If the editor decides your article requires any kind of significant revision before
publication, you will be notified and given the opportunity to approve of any such
changes. Such revisions may include correction of factual statements, revisions for
grammar and readability, and changing the title to something likelier to draw more
readers’ attention or improve search engine optimization. Any proposed revisions are
intended only to improve the quality of each article.
Please include a short bio with your submission to let readers know a little
about you, just something brief to let people know who you are. You may also submit
a photograph of yourself that will appear with your bio.
Please let the editor know whether a piece is an exclusive submission or not,
and whether it has been published elsewhere previously (this will not affect the
consideration your article is given, but the courtesy is appreciated).
Deadline for receipt of articles
Articles should reach the editor by the 10th of each month. Your articles, after
due editing might find place in any of the upcoming issues depending upon the
quality and suitability of the articles. However, selection of articles for publication is
the sole discretion of the Editorial Board.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in articles published at ‘SAHAR- The
Voices of Pashtuns are the respective author’s own. Every effort is taken to ensure
that information published at SAHAR is factually accurate. However, SAHAR does
not accept any responsibility for submitted articles that are published on the website.
Under no circumstances shall SAHAR be held liable for the work of others for which
permission has been granted for publication at SAHAR.
Thank you for considering SAHAR-The Voices of Pashtuns as an outlet for your
writing!
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November 2009
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All Rights Reserved
Except where otherwise indicated, entire contents are copyright@editorsahar
Feel free to distribute this magazine (in whole and for free) to anyone you want.
However you may not sell this magazine or its contents, nor extract and use more
than a paragraph of content in some other publication without the permission of the
Editor in Chief. Published monthly in PDF. Visit us at
http://khyberwatch.com/Sahar
( For downloading or viewing )
And
http://www.airra.org/analysis/SaharSeptemberfinaldoc.pdf
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November 2009
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