Pashtuns & Pashtuns & HazarasHazarasBy: Julie GreggBy: Julie Gregg

Hazara PeopleHazara People

The The HazāraHazāra are a Persian-speaking people are a Persian-speaking people residing in the central region of residing in the central region of Afghanistan (referred to as Hazarajat) and Afghanistan (referred to as Hazarajat) and northwestern Pakistan. The Hazara are northwestern Pakistan. The Hazara are predominantly Shia Muslims and are the predominantly Shia Muslims and are the third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, comprising 9% of the population. Hazaras comprising 9% of the population. Hazaras can also be found in large numbers in can also be found in large numbers in neighboring Iran and Pakistan, primarily as neighboring Iran and Pakistan, primarily as refugees, and as diaspora around the refugees, and as diaspora around the world. world.

Hazaras FeaturesHazaras Features The strongly Mongoloid The strongly Mongoloid

appearance of the Hazara appearance of the Hazara makes it easy to makes it easy to distinguish them from the distinguish them from the neighboring populations. neighboring populations. Most Hazara have broad Most Hazara have broad faces with flat noses and faces with flat noses and narrow eyes, scant facial narrow eyes, scant facial hair, and are shorter of hair, and are shorter of build than their build than their neighbors. It remains neighbors. It remains unclear what their origin unclear what their origin are, but Eastern Turkic or are, but Eastern Turkic or Mongol descent have Mongol descent have been suggested.been suggested.

Hazara LandHazara Land

Hazarajat, the land of the Hazara, comprises Hazarajat, the land of the Hazara, comprises the mountainous central areas of Afghanistan. the mountainous central areas of Afghanistan. Its has distinct boundaries; a traveler knows Its has distinct boundaries; a traveler knows when Hazara territory is entered. While other when Hazara territory is entered. While other areas of Afghanistan are multiethnic, only areas of Afghanistan are multiethnic, only Hazara live permanently in Hazarajat. While Hazara live permanently in Hazarajat. While other ethnic territories extend into neighboring other ethnic territories extend into neighboring nation-states, Hazarajat is landlocked in the nation-states, Hazarajat is landlocked in the middle of Afghanistan. The geographical middle of Afghanistan. The geographical boundary arguably coincides with a political boundary arguably coincides with a political boundary between distinct populations. boundary between distinct populations.

Hazara OriginHazara Origin Hazaras are among few races on the face of the Hazaras are among few races on the face of the

earth about whose origin so little is known. earth about whose origin so little is known. Some research done on Hazara background Some research done on Hazara background suggests that they are the descendants of suggests that they are the descendants of Genghis Khan, the great Mongol warrior of Genghis Khan, the great Mongol warrior of 13th Century. This theory is supported by the 13th Century. This theory is supported by the similarities in the language and words that similarities in the language and words that Mongols and Hazaras use even today. Another Mongols and Hazaras use even today. Another plausible theory is that Hazaras were Buddhists plausible theory is that Hazaras were Buddhists that actually lived in Afghanistan for the known that actually lived in Afghanistan for the known history at least since the time of the Kushan history at least since the time of the Kushan Dynasty some 2000 years ago prior to the Dynasty some 2000 years ago prior to the arrival of Islam. arrival of Islam.

Pashtun PeoplePashtun People Also known as Pathans, Pushtuns, or Pakhtuns, the Also known as Pathans, Pushtuns, or Pakhtuns, the

Pashtuns are an extremely proud people comprising Pashtuns are an extremely proud people comprising nearly 42% of Afghanistan’s  population (11-12 nearly 42% of Afghanistan’s  population (11-12 million) and 12% of Pakistan’s population (18-19 million) and 12% of Pakistan’s population (18-19 million).  The Pashtuns reside  primarily  in Eastern  million).  The Pashtuns reside  primarily  in Eastern  and Southern Afghanistan, and the North-West and Southern Afghanistan, and the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, and consist of about Frontier Province of Pakistan, and consist of about 608 different tribal groups.  Their reputation as a 608 different tribal groups.  Their reputation as a fierce, independent, hot tempered, bold, and fearless fierce, independent, hot tempered, bold, and fearless people is legendary.  The name “Afghan” was given people is legendary.  The name “Afghan” was given to the Pashtuns by their Persian neighbors and to the Pashtuns by their Persian neighbors and means “unruliness” or “upheaval”.  Pashtun culture means “unruliness” or “upheaval”.  Pashtun culture is expressed in the Pashtunwali, an unwritten, is expressed in the Pashtunwali, an unwritten, undefined code of ethics which lies at the heart of undefined code of ethics which lies at the heart of the Pashtun ethos. the Pashtun ethos. 

Pashtun Features Pashtun Features

Pashtuns are Pashtuns are Caucasians, of Caucasians, of medium height, with medium height, with strong, straight strong, straight noses and black noses and black hair. Many Pashtuns hair. Many Pashtuns have dark eyes, have dark eyes, although there is although there is also a high incidence also a high incidence of blue, green, and of blue, green, and gray eyes.gray eyes.

Pashtun OriginPashtun Origin

Though their origin is unclear, their Though their origin is unclear, their legends say that they are the legends say that they are the descendants of Afghana, grandson of descendants of Afghana, grandson of King Saul. Most scholars, however, King Saul. Most scholars, however, believe that the Pashtuns probably believe that the Pashtuns probably arose from an intermingling of arose from an intermingling of ancient and subsequent invaders.ancient and subsequent invaders.

Pashtun Fierce FightersPashtun Fierce Fighters Pashtuns are fierce Pashtuns are fierce

fighters and are known fighters and are known for their marksmanship. for their marksmanship. They are accustomed to They are accustomed to hardship and poverty hardship and poverty and can prevail in and can prevail in conditions that would conditions that would easily defeat others. At easily defeat others. At the same time, though the same time, though deeply dedicated to their deeply dedicated to their religious beliefs, they religious beliefs, they also cultivate also cultivate nonreligious cultural nonreligious cultural traditions.traditions.

Pashtun LevelsPashtun Levels Different levels are valid in different Different levels are valid in different

contexts. The royal family of Afghanistan contexts. The royal family of Afghanistan belongs to the Mohammadzai clan of the belongs to the Mohammadzai clan of the Barakzai tribe, within the Durrani Barakzai tribe, within the Durrani confederation the Pashtun. Political power confederation the Pashtun. Political power in Afghanistan has always been in the hand in Afghanistan has always been in the hand of the Pashtuns: in fact Afghan means of the Pashtuns: in fact Afghan means Pashtun, and Afghanistan means the land of Pashtun, and Afghanistan means the land of the Pashtuns. However, whether the ruler the Pashtuns. However, whether the ruler ship was regarded as Pashtun, Durrani, ship was regarded as Pashtun, Durrani, Barakzai or Muhammadzai would depend Barakzai or Muhammadzai would depend on the context.on the context.

TreatmentTreatment

The Hazarajat had remained virtually The Hazarajat had remained virtually independent until 1893 when it was independent until 1893 when it was conquered by the Pashtun King Abdul conquered by the Pashtun King Abdul Rehman, who initiated the first anti-Rehman, who initiated the first anti-Hazara program. He did this by killing Hazara program. He did this by killing thousands of Hazaras, moving thousands thousands of Hazaras, moving thousands more to Kabul where they lived as more to Kabul where they lived as indentured serfs and servants, and indentured serfs and servants, and destroying their mosques (place of destroying their mosques (place of worship).worship).

Treatment continued Treatment continued

Hazaras are the largest Shia Muslim Hazaras are the largest Shia Muslim group in Afghanistan, estimated to be group in Afghanistan, estimated to be 3-4 million. The sectarian enmity 3-4 million. The sectarian enmity between the Sunni Pashtuns and the between the Sunni Pashtuns and the Shia Hazaras went back a long way, Shia Hazaras went back a long way, but the Taliban had brought a new but the Taliban had brought a new edge to the conflict for they treated edge to the conflict for they treated all Shias as all Shias as munafaqeen munafaqeen or hypocrites or hypocrites and beyond the pale of true Islam. and beyond the pale of true Islam.

Conflict Conflict The Hazara suffered under the rule of the The Hazara suffered under the rule of the

Taliban.The Taliban had Hazarajat totally isolated Taliban.The Taliban had Hazarajat totally isolated from the rest of the world going as far as not from the rest of the world going as far as not allowing the United Nations to deliver food to the allowing the United Nations to deliver food to the provinces. During the years that followed, Hazaras provinces. During the years that followed, Hazaras suffered severe oppression and many large ethnic suffered severe oppression and many large ethnic massacres and rapes were carried out by the massacres and rapes were carried out by the predominately ethnic Pashtun Taliban.These predominately ethnic Pashtun Taliban.These human rights abuses not only occurred in human rights abuses not only occurred in Hazarajat, but across all areas controlled by the Hazarajat, but across all areas controlled by the Taliban. Particularly after their capture of Mazar-e Taliban. Particularly after their capture of Mazar-e Sharif in 1998, where after a massive killing of Sharif in 1998, where after a massive killing of some 8000 civilians, the Taliban openly declared some 8000 civilians, the Taliban openly declared that the Hazaras would be targeted.that the Hazaras would be targeted.

Conflict ContinuedConflict Continued Over the past century, the two peoples have Over the past century, the two peoples have

fought periodically, and the Hazaras, who are fought periodically, and the Hazaras, who are thought to make up between nine and thought to make up between nine and nineteen percent of Afghanistan’s populationnineteen percent of Afghanistan’s population—the Pashtuns make up nearly half—have —the Pashtuns make up nearly half—have usually lost. On the border between the usually lost. On the border between the Hazara heartland, in the country’s Hazara heartland, in the country’s mountainous and impoverished center, and mountainous and impoverished center, and the Pashtun plains in the south and east, the Pashtun plains in the south and east, conflicts over grazing land are common. But, conflicts over grazing land are common. But, working alongside NATO soldiers, Hazara working alongside NATO soldiers, Hazara police units are now operating far to the police units are now operating far to the south of these traditional battlegrounds and south of these traditional battlegrounds and deep into Pashtun territory.deep into Pashtun territory.

Hazara PeopleHazara People

Pashtun PeoplePashtun People