The Pushtoon National Question

7/28/2019 The Pushtoon National Question

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Pushtoonistan and the Pushtoon National Question

Feroz Ahmed

Pakistan Forum, Vol. 3, No. 12. (Sep., 1973), pp. 8-19+22.

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Page 8 Pa ki st an Forum September 1973

FEROZ AHMEDPUSHTOONISTAN AND THE PUSHTOON

NATIONAL QUESTION" I f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l a m r o a c h t o a P a ki st an . I t t h e r e f o r e c o n s i d e rs i t a s i t s~ ~. ...q u e s t i o n i s requ i red anywhere i t i s d u t y t o s u p p or t t h e s e c e s s i o n o f P u s ht o on sr e au i re d h e r e , i n t h e n a t i on a l a u e ~ t i o n . ~ ~rom P a ki s t an and t o a l lo w them t o form a n i(J.-V. S t a l i n , M arx is m a n d t h e N a t io n a lQ u e s t i o n . )The P u s h to o n is t an ( o r ~ u k h t o o n i s t a n ) ques-t i o n h a s o nc e a g a i n c ome i n t o s h a r p f o c u s a s ar e s u l t o f some r e c e n t d e v elo pm e n ts i n t h e r e g -i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e Army i n t e r v e n t i o n i n B a lu c h i-s t an and th e over th row of t h e Afghan monarchyb y t h e p r o - P u s h to o n i s t a n e l e m e n t s l e d by S a r d a rDaud Khan. The form er development und er sc or est h e u n w i l l i n g ne s s o f t h e l a r g e l y P u nj ab -b as edand p ro - Ir a n i c e n t r a l a u t h o r i t i e s i n P ak i st a nt o a l low even a modicum of se l f - gove rnanc e t ot h e s m a ll e r n a t i o n a l i t i e s . The l a t t e r d ev el op -m ent comes a s a t i m e l y a n t i d o t e t o t h e c e n t r a -l i z i n g i n f l u e n c e s i n t h e r e g i o n, and r e k i n d l e sth e h op e s of t h e P us ht oo n n a t i o n a l i s t s . S a r da rDaud a l l u d e d t o t h e P u s h to o n i s t a n q u e s t i o n w henhe s i n g le d o u t P a k is t an i n h i s f i r s t s pe ec k a sth e o n ly c o u n t r y w i th w h ic h A f g h a n i s t a n h adu n r es o l ve d p ro bl em s . I n a r e c e n t i n t e r v i e ww i th A l- Fata h ( ~ e p t2 7 ) , A jmal Khatak, theNa tio nal Awami Pa rt y ' s ( NA P ) s e l f - e x i l ed S e c re -t a ry - g en e r al i n K ab ul, c l e a r l y s t a t e d t h a t h i sa im w as t o c r e a t e a n i n de p e n de n t P u s h to o n i s t a non t h e model of Banglad esh.Be ca us e of t h e a s s o c i a t i o n of t h e A f gh anGovernment and th e NAP wi th t h e Pu sh too n is ta ns l o g a n t h e P u sh to on n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n i s o f t e nc o nf u se d w i t h t h a t s l o g a n a nd i s d i s m i s s ed b yp r o v in g t h e ill i n t e n t i o n s of t h e s e p a r t i e s .Below we s h a l l t r y t o d i s c u s s t h e c o nc e pt o fPush toon is tan a s advoca ted by th e Afghan Gov-ernment and the NAP , a n d t h e P u s h to o n n a t i o n -a l q u es t io n p e r s e .

INDEPENDENT PUKHTOONI STANThe Afghan Claim

The Government o f Afgha n is ta n , e s pe c i a l lyd u r in g t h e p r e v io u s a d m in i s t r a t i o n o f DaudKhan, h a s b ee n p a r t i c u l a r l y a c t i v e i n r a i s i n gt h e P u s ht oo n is ta n i s s u e i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l f o r -m s, i n c l u d i n g t h e U n it e d N a t i o ns , a nd i n e n-c o u ra g i ng t h e P us ht oon n a t i o n a l i s t s i n P ak i-s t a n . G i vi n g a i d an d c om f or t t o s e l f - e x i l e dn a t i o n a l i s t s l i k e K han A bd ul G h a f f a r K han( ~ a c h a h a n ) , G h a f f a r K han A ch a kz a i a nd A jmalKhatak has been a p a r t o f th e Afghan po l ic yt o d e m o n st r a te i t s s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P ush-to o n i s t a n m ovem ent e a s t o f t h e D ur an d l i n e .On th e fa ce of i t th e Afghan Government ' s i n t e r e s t i n P u s h to o n i s t a n i s prompted by i t s c o n c e r n f o r t h e o p p r e s s e d P u sh t oo n p e o pl e i n

dependent Pat han s t a t e by t h e name of Push-t o o n i s t a n o r P u k h t o o n i s t a n .The c o n c ep t o f t h a t P u k h to o n i s t a n i s q uc l e a r l y r e f l e c t e d i n a p os t ag e s t am p i s s u e d A f gh a ni st a n i n 1 969 and s t i l l d is p la y e d a t t hK a b u l a i r p o r t . I t shows Sarhad (with i t st r i b a l b e l t ) a nd t h e wh ole o f P a k i s t a n i B a lustan a s t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e p r o po se d P u sh toi s t a n . P u s h t o o n is t a n f o r t h e n on -P us ht oo np e o p le o f P a k i s t a n , b u t n o t f o r t h e P u s h to o no f A f g h a n i s t a n ! So much f o r t h e n a t i o n a l b aof A f g h a n i s t a n ' s P u k h to o n i s t a n .Although i t i s t r u e t h a t b ac kw ar dn es s op r o d u c t iv e f o r c e s g i v e s r i s e t o ba ck wa rd a n dc r ud e i d e o lo g i e s w hic h i n t u r n r e s u l t i n t h ea b s u rd i t ie s l i k e t h e a bove , i n t h i s p a r t i c u lc a se t h e a b s u r d i t y i s q u i t e s e l f - s e r v i n g . TA f g ha n i e l i t e c o n s i s t s o f P e r s i a n s who o cc upim p o r t a n t p o s i t i o n s i n t h e G ov er nm en t. Theo f f i c i a l l an g ua g e of A f g h a n is t an i s P e r s i a nr a t h e r t h a n P u s ht o . The name o f t h e i r a i r l i

i s Aryana. Having a Patha n monarch and PathP rim e M i n i s t e r s d i d n o t c h an ge a l l t h i s .I t i s q u i t e c o n c e iv a b l e t h a t u n d e r DaudKhan P us h to o n n a t i o n a l i s m may b e i n t e n s i f i e da nd t h a t t h e P e r s i a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n may bed i s c a r d e d i n f a v o u r of a P us h to o n i d e n t i t y .Bu t t h a t w i l l i n t e n s i f y t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i oi n A fg ha ni st an i t s e l f , f o r t h e P us ht oo ns ,a c c o r d in g t o m os t e s t im a te s , c o m p r is e no morth a n o n e - ha l f o f A f g h a n i s t a n ' s p o p u l a t i o n .P u s h to o n A f g h a n i s t a n w i l l t h e n r a i s e t h e q u et i o n o f n a t i o n a l s e l f - de t e r m i n at i o n f o r t h eTad j i ks , th e Tur lanen ians , th e Uzbeks and th eH a z a r a s .The d ilemma t he Afghan r u l e r s f i nd thems e l v e s i n c o n s i s t s of t h e f a c t t h a t i f t h ey n o t e s t a b l i s h t h e i r own P u sh too n b on a f i d e s t h e y c an no t c on vi nc e o t h e r s o f t h e i r s i n c e ra b ou t P u k ht o o ni s ta n , b u t i f t h e y d o , c e n t r i fg a l f o r c e s a r e s e t i n m ot io n i n t h e i r own c o u n t r y . None t h e l e s s , t h e ve n e e r of s e l f - d e t e rm i n a t i o n f o r t h e P u sh t oo n s c a nn o t h i d e t h eo l d t e r r i t o r i a l q u e s t i on : t h e A fgh ans c o n s idth e Gandamak t r e a t y o f 1878 and t h e Duranda g re e m en t o f 1 89 3 a s u n ju s t a r r a n g e m e n t s i m -p os ed up on t he m b y t h e B r i t i s h c o l o n i a l i s t s .There can be no doub t th a t t he se and subsequa g r ee m e n ts b et w ee n A f g h an i s t a n a nd t h e B r i tr u l e r s o f I n d i a w e re s i g n e d u n de r f o r c e o ru n de r t h e t h r e a t o f f o r c e . The B r i t i s h w e r


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September 1973 P a k i s t a n F o r m P age 9

n a t u r a l l y , a wa re of i t , a nd t h e i r p o l i c y t o -w ard t h e T r i b a l a r e a s a nd A r t i c l e 11 o f t h eAnglo-Afghan Tre a ty o f 19 2 l we re ba se d on th er e c o g n i t i o n of t h e Af gh an government?^ i n t e r -e s t i n t h e t r i b e s e a s t o f t h e Durand l i n e .From t h e ti m e of Dost Mohammad e ve ry Afgh anGovern men t h a s ho pe d t o r e - a nn e x t h e t e r r i t o r -i e s e a s t of t h e b o r d e r , e x te n d in g u p t o t h er i v e r I n du s . A t t h e t im e of I n d i a c s p a r t i t i o ni n 1947 th e Afg han is tan Government u rged t h eB r i t i s h t o a l l o w t h e P at ha ns t wo a d d i t i o n a lc h o i c e s , a n n e x a t io n w i t h A f g h a n i s t an a nd i n d e -p en de nt P u s h t o o n i s t a n , i n t h e r e fe r en d um h e l di n S a r h ad . I n t h e p os t- w ar e r a , when s e l f -d e t e r m in a t i o n m ak es b e t t e r d iplo m ac y th a n o u t -r i g h t c l a i m s of a n n e x a t i o n , i t w as n o t s u r p r i s -i n g t h a t i n d ep e n d en t P u s h to o n i s t a n b eca me th ef o rm a t of A f g h a n i s t a n' s i r r e d e n t i s t c l a i m s .o or d e t a i l s on t h i s s u b j e c t , s e e O la f C a ro e 'sThe Pa thans and Arnold F le tc he rc s Afghan is tan :Highway of Conquest. )

Thus an Afghan-suppor ted Pukh toon i s tanc a n on l y b e t h e f i r s t s t e p t o wa r ds a nn e x a t i o no r , a t b e s t , a sem i-autonom ous s a t e l l i t e . I ne i t h e r c a se it d o e s n o t o f f e r g oo d p r o s p e c t st o t h e P u s h too n s o f t h e mo re ad v an c ed r e g io n se a s t o f t h e D urand l i n e . The l o n g i n g f o rs u c h a r e u n i o n o n t h i s s i d e of t h e b o r d e r d o e sn o t r e f l e c t p r o gr e s s i ve n a t io n a l i sm , b u t r a t h e rm e d ie v al p a r t i c u l a r i s m . I t d o e s n o t e ve n f a l lw i t h i n t h e p ur vi ew o f t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n a senun c ia te d by Len in .

The d i v i s i o n of t h e P us ht oo n n a t i o n a l i t yi n tw o s o v e r e i g n c o u n t r i e s may b e u n f o r t u n a t e ,bu t no t un ique by any means. Such que s t i onshave been and can be re so lv ed by economic in -t e g r a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n by l i b e r a l s e n t im e n t al -i s m . I f t h e l a t t e r c r i t e r i o n were a p pl ie d t oA f gh an i st an i t s e l f i t would have t o cede i t sn o r t h e rn t e r r i t o r i e s t o t h e S o vi et U nion.R e p e at i ng t h i s t h e w or l d o v e r we s h a l l be e n -g ag ed i n d ra w in g a p e r f e c t e t h n o g e o g ra p h i c a lm ap, b u t n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i n a d v an c i ng h i s t o r y .Pu sht oon ist an and t h e NAP

The Khudaee Khidrnatgar (Red S h i r t ) move-ment i n t h e s e t t l e d d i s t r i c t s of S a r ha d, l e dby Gh affar Khan, and th e Wrore Pushtoon move-m ent i n t h e P u s h to o n- s p e ak in g a r e a s o f B a lu c h i -s t a n , l ed by Abdul Samad Achak zai , emerged a st h e m ost a r t i c u l a t e e x p r e s s i o n s of P u s ht o onn a t i o n a l se n t i m e n t s a g a i n s t t h e B r i t i s h . Hav-i n g op po se d t h e c r e a t i o n of P a k i s t a n a nd f a i l e d ,t h e n a t i o n a l i s t s h a l f -h e a r t ed l y r e c o n c il e d w i t hP a k is t an . S in c e t h e n t h e i r a t t i t u d e , an d t h a to f t h e i r s u c c e s s o r o r g a n i z a t i o n t h e NAP, h a sb e e n q u i t e a m b iv a l e n t t o wa r d s P a k i s t a n . F a r ig hB u k h ar i , i n h i s b io g r a p h y o f G h a f f a r Khan(Bacha ~ h a n ) , n s i s t s t h a t by P u sh to o ni st anGha ffar Khan s imply meant a renamed pro vin cew i t h i n P a k i s t a n . O b v i o us l y , t h e m a t t e r h ad

n e v e r b ee n a s s im p le a s t h e r en am ing o f a na r e a . Gh a f f a r Khan h a s co n t in u e d t o c o n t r a -d i c t h i m s e lf t h r o u g ho u t t h e h i s t o r y o f P ak i -s t an . Now he and h i s son , th e NAP c h i e f W a lK han, l o u d l y p r o c l a im t h a t t h e y a r e n o t s e c e si o n i s t s . O b vi o us ly , t h e y a r e i n P a k i s t an w hi t i s c o n si d er e d a t r e a s o n t o a d v o c at e s e p a r at i s m . Ajmal Khata k, who now occ up ies G ha ff aKha nc s s e a t i n t h e s a f e h a ve n of Ka b u l, t h r e wsome l i g h t o n t h e d il em ma o f h i s c o l l e a g u e swhen h e t o l d t h e r e p o r t e r o f A l -F a ta h t h a t t hs e c e s s i o n i s t s s e ld om o p e n ly a d v o c a t e s e p a r a t ian d t h a t t h e i r o b j e c t i v e was no l e s s t h a n t h ee s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a n i n d ep e n d en t P u s h to o n i s t a nT ha t t h e P u s ht oo n n a t i o n a l i s t s a l w ay s hads e c e s s i o n i n t h e b ac k o f t h e i r m in ds a nd t h a tt h i s u r ge was p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e n s i f i e d a f t e rB an gl ad es h was a l s o i n d i c a t e d i n t h e c o n v er s at i o n s t h i s w r i t e r h ad w i t h P r o f. M uz af fa r A hof t h e Bangladesh NAP i n O c to be r 1 97 1. I n t hin t e r v i e w p u b l i s h e d i n P a k i s t a n F orum of t h esame month he defe nde d t h e n ome ncla ture NAP( W a l i - ~ u z a f f a r )on t h e g r o u nd s t h a t t h e y we res t i l l o ne p a r t y a nd t h a t t h e s e p a r a t i o n ofWest P ak is tan ' s sm al l e r p rov inc es was as mucha n o b j e c t i v e of t h e p a r t y a s t h e c r e a t i o n ofa n i n d ep e n d en t Ba ng la de sh . A f t e r t h e i n t e r v ih e t o l d t h i s w r i t e r t h a t h e ha d met w i t h IVJalKhan i n Lond on a n d h ad t e a s e d him f o r h i s " i nt e g r a t i o n i s t l t r o l e d u ri n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a lt a l k s i n D acca. W a l i, a c c o r d in g t o M u z af fa rw as d i s tu r b e d a t E a s t P a k i s t a n 's s e p a r a t i o n at h a t s t a g e and s a i d t h a t e i t h e r t h e r e s h o ul db e o ne P a k i s t a n o r n o P a k i s t a n b e c a u s e w i th oth e B e n g a l i s t h e P a th a n s a n d B a lu c h i s wou ldf i n d i t v e ry d i f f i c u l t t o c op e w i t h t h e P u nj

Our p ur po se i n i n i t i a t i n g t h e a b ov e d i sc u s s i o n i s n ot t o r a i s e t h e s e c e s s i o n i s t a l a ra b ou t t h e NAP, b u t r a t h e r t o e s t a b l i s h t h e f at h a t t h e s e p a r a t i s t o p t i o n h as b ee n u nd er c os i d e r a t i o n by t h e NAP a s i t shou ld be by anyna t i o n a l i s t movement. However , in s t ea d o f bin g our judgement o f th e NAP on whe ther o r ni t i s s e c e s s i o n i s t , we s h a l l t r y t o a n a ly s e c h a r a c t e r a nd s e e i f i t c a n a d va n ce t h e s t r u go f t h e P u s h to o n m a s s e s. T h e r e f o r e , i t w i l lf i r s t b e ne c e ss a r y t o d e ve l op a framework fos uc h a n a l y s i s .NAT IONAL QUESTION AND THE PAKISTANI LEFT

No ques t ion- -no t even t h e S ino-Sov ie t cf l i c t - - h a s c r e a t e d more c o n f us i on i n t h e P a ks t a n i l e f t t h an t h e n a t i o n a l q u es t io n . P a r tt h e p ro ble m co ul d be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e f a i l ut o com prehend L e n i n t s d i a l e c t i c a l p o s t u l a t e son t h e q u es t i on , and p a r t l y t o t h e d i f f i c u l ti n a pp ly in g t h e o r e t i c a l g e n e r a l i t i e s t o t h ec o n c r e te s i t u a t i o n of P a k i s t an . But it i s t hc o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s of t h e p e t t y b o u rg e o iso f t h e s m a l l e r n a t i o n a l i t i e s a nd of P u nj ab ant h e U r du -s pe ak in g g r ou p w h ic h h a s l e d t o t h ep r e s e n t c o n f u s i o n i n w hi ch o ne s e c t i o n h as c


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Page 10 Pa ki s t an Forum September 1973

e x c l us i v e ly t o t h e f l s e c e s s i o n i s t f l s p e c t ofL en in an d t h e o t h e r e x c l u s i v e l y t o h i s l T i n t e -g r a t i o n i s t T f s p e c t .

To t h e s e f ~ s o c i a l i s t s f lh e h a l l m a r k o f al e f t i s t i n P a ki s t an i s t o s u p p or t a ny r e g i o n a lmovement w h ic h c a l l s i t s e l f o p p r e s se d a nd d e -mands t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . I nt h e i r vie w a ny c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e , r e g a r d l e s sof i t s c l a s s c h a r a c t e r a nd i d e o l o g i c a l c o n t e n t ,i s a p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e ; t o op po se i t i s t os i d e w i t h t h e r u l i n g c l a s s e s o f t h e o p p r es s orn a t i o n a l i t y . T h i s p o s i t i o n of t h e i r s i s basedl e s s o n t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t io ni n P a k i s t a n t h a n u po n a d e e p l y - s e at e d b e l i e ft h a t P a k i st a n i s a n l l a r t i f i c i a l l f s t a t e wh ichm us t b e d o n e aw ay w i t h a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e .

The o n l y t h i n g t h a t c an be s a i d i n t h e i rd e f e n c e i s t h a t t h e y a r e n ot P a k i s t a n i c ha uv-i n i s t s ; b u t many o f t he m a r e I n d i a n c h a uv i n -i s t s , who do no t a p p l y t h e sam e p r i n c i p l e o fc e n t r i f u g a l i s m t o I n d i a w h ic h i s much moreheter ogene ous and whose union i s much moref f u n n a t u r a l f f h a n P a k i s t a n ' s . But t h a t i sb e s i d e t h e p o i n t . The m a in p r ob l em w i t ht h e i r t h e s i s i s t h a t i n a c t u a l i t y a l l s t a t e sa r e a r t i f i c i a l - - m a n was n ot b o rn w i t h a s t a t e ;i t evolved. And t h e r e i s n o u n i f o r m b a s i sf o r t h e f o r ma ti on of s t a t e s i n t h i s w or ld .

The t h e o r e t i c a l c o nf u si o n of t h e s e e l e -m en ts l e a d s t o p o l i t i c a l p r a c t i c e s w hi ch a r es e l f - c o n tr a d i ct o r y and o f t e n a g a i n s t t h e i n t e r -e s t s o f t h e p e o p l e . F or e x am p le , t h e y a c c u s ea s c h a u v i n i s t a n yo n e who d o e s n ot s u p p o r t t h eindependence o f Bang ladesh , bu t th ey wou ldn o t s u p p o rt i n d ep e nd e nc e f o r t h e K a s h n i r i s .Worse t h a n t h a t , t h e i r s u p p o r t f o r t h e NAP h a sgone t o th e ex te n t o f oppos ing t h e movement o fPushtoon pea san ts . When g iv en a cho ice be tweent h e P u s h t o o n p e a s a n t s a n d t h e P u s h t o o n l a n d -l o r d s , t h e y h av e c ho se n t h e l a t t e r . T h i s i st h e i r u nd e rs t an d i ng o f t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n.I n f a c t , i t h a s become d i f f i c u l t t o d i s t i n g u i s hb et we en t he m a nd t h e f e u d a l n a t i o n a l i s t s t h e ys u p p o rt . T h e r e f o r e , m os t of t h e c r i t i c i s ma g a i n s t t h e NAP w ou ld a l s o a p p l y t o t he m." T h e I n t e g r a t i o n i s t s f 1

There a r e many Pak is tan ide o logy chauv in -i s t s who a r e m as q ue r ad in g a s l e f t i s t s a nd s o c -i a l i s t s . Some o f t he m, b y a s t r a n g e t w i s t o fl o g i c , t r y t o p ro ve t h a t t h e P u sh to on s ( a n df o r t h a t m a t t er S i nd h is a nd ~ a l u c h i s ) r e n ote ve n a n a t i o n a l i t y ( s e e , f o r e xa mp le , Shaw katS i d d i q u i f s a r t i c l e i n Al -F at ah of Feb. 1 7 ,1972. )

P o in t in g o ut t h e f a c t t h a t n a t i o n i s abourg eo is phenomenon , t he y deny t h a t t h e Push-

D i s t r i b u t i o n o f P u sh t o o ns , 1 96 1Number %

P a k i s t a n ( e s t .)Sarhad ( e s t . )Peshawer G Mardan 6 ,439 ,8075 ,786 ,049d i v s .S t a te s , t r i b a la r e a s ( e s t . )B a l u c h i s t a nZhob d i s t .L o r a l ai d i s t .Q u et t a d i s t .Pun ja bS indhK a r a c h i d i s t .

2,686,0493 ,100 ,0003 5 1 , 0 4 183,99467 ,626164 ,042152 ,820

149 ,946105 ,482

t o o n s c a n b e a n a t i o n i n t h e a b s en c e o f t h ed ev el op me nt of c a p i t a l i s t r e l a t i o n s of p ro d uct i o n . The c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e v e s t i g e s oft r i b a l o r c l a n t y p e of s o c i a l o r ga n i z at i o namong t h e P ushtoons i s c i t e d a s t h e f i n a l p roi n s u p po r t o f t h e i r a rg um en t t h a t t h e P us ht ooa r e no t e v en a f e u d a l n a t i o n a l i t y .

Although i t i s t r u e t h a t t h e p r ed om in anmode o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e P u s h t oo n a r e a s - - o rf o r t h a t m a t t e r i n t h e w ho le o f P a k i s t a n -- i sn ot c a p i t a l i s t , i t i s n ot c o r r e c t t o s ay t h ai t i s d om in at ed by t h e s o - c a l l e d t r i b a l r e l a -t i o n s . T r i b a l communal o w n er s h ip o f p r o p e r t yw as a l r e a d y o n i t s way o u t when t h e B r i t i s hi n te r ve n ed a nd f a c i l i t a t e d t h e u s u r pa t i o n ofcomm unal l a n d s by t h e t r i b a l l e a d e r s a n d b udd i n g f e u d a l l o r d s . C o n s o l id a t i on of f e u d a ln a t i o n a l i t y was a l s o a c c e l e r a t e d i n t h e p r o-c e s s . I n t e r a c t i o n b et we en t h e s o - c a l l e d t r ib a l and " s e t t l e d f 1 c u l t i v a t e d a r e a s was a l s oenhanced , and th e movement o f p op u l a t i on wi t hi n t h e l f s e tt l e d " a r e a s t o o k p l a ce on a l a r g es c a l e . I t i s b ec au s e of t h i s t h a t t o d ay t h ea r e f ew p l a c e s i n t h e r e g i o n wh er e t h e p e a s aa r e e x c l us i v e ly of an y one t r i b a l o r i g i n . Iwe t ak e t h e Mohmands a s an example , we n ot ict h a t a l t hou gh t h e YohrLand Agency i s c o n s i d e ra s t h e i r home, th e r e a r e p robab ly more Mohmai n C ha r sa d ah a n d o t h e r a r e a s o f P es ha w er a n dMardan d i s t r i c t s t h a n i n t h e A gency. T he seMohmand pea sa nt s work a lo ng wit h pea sa nt s ofo t h e r t r i b a l o r i g i n s o n t h e l a n d s owned b y l al o r d s be lo ng in g t o v a r i ou s t r i b e s .

Today when th e pe asa n t s o f va r io us Pusht o o n t r i b e s h a ve o r g a n iz e d th e m s e l ve s o n c l al i n e s i n a s i n g l e movem ent a n d when t h e l a n dl o r d s o f d i f f e r e n t t r i b e s h a ve b ee n co mp el let o f o r g e t h e i r c l a s s u n i t y i n t h e form of t hA s s o c i at i o n f o r t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f t h e R i g h t so f t h e L a n d l o r d s , i t i s o n l y a n a n t i - P us h t o o nb i g o t who c a n v e n t u r e t o s a y t h a t t h e P u s ht o


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a r e n ot a nationality.T he P u s h t o o n s h a v e i n f a c t g o ne b ey on dt h e s t a g e of f e u d a l n a t i o n a l i t y . The d e v el o p-m en t o f c om merce a n d i n d u s t r y h a s r e s u l t e d i nt h e c r e a t i o n of P us ht oo n p r o l e t a r i a t a n d Pu sh -

t o o n b o u r g e o i s i e , a l b e i t a sm a l l o n e. C a p i t a l -i s t r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n ha ve b e en s u p e r -im po sed u po n t h e s e m i- fe u d al r e l a t i o n s i n a g r i -c u l t u r e . C o l o ni a l a nd n e o c o lo n i a l i n t e r f e r e n -c e s , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , do no t a l l o w f o r t h e s mo otht r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f mode o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d s o c i a lo r g a n i z a t i o n a s some of o u r f f s t r a i g h t " i n t e l l e c -t u a l s w o ul d w an t t o h a v e . T h u s, we o b t a i n s i m -u l t an e o u s e x i s te n c e of t r i b a l , f e u d a l a ndb o ur g eo i s r e l a t i o n s i n t h e same n a t i o n a l t e r r i -t o r y .The i n t e g r a t i o n i s t s h av e a l s o l e a r n e d t oj ug gl e w i t h t h e s t a t i s t i c s p e rt a in i n g t o t h ep r e s e n t p r o v i n c i a l a nd i n t e r n a t i o n a l bound-a r i e s . T he y w o u ld , f o r e x am p le , p o i n t o u tt h a t t h e r e a r e more P u sh to on s l i v i n g o u t s i d et h e S a r ha d pr o v i nc e t h a n i n s i d e i t , a n d t h a tt h e r e a r e o t h e r e t h n i c gr ou ps r e s i d i n g i nS a r h a d .I t i s p r ob a bl y t r u e t h a t t h e r e a r e moreP u sh t oo n s l i v i n g i n A f g h a n i s t a n ( a b o u t 9- 10m i l l i o n ) t h a n i n P a k i st a n ( a b o ut 8 . 5 m i l l i o n )a n d t h a t a l a r g e num ber o f P u s ht o on s l i v e i nP u n j a b a n d S i n d h . I t i s a l s o t r u e t h a tp e o p l e s l i k e G u j a r , K o h i s t a n i s , K a l a s h a n dt h e K h o wa r- sp e ak in g C h i t r a l i s f o r m co m pa ctm i n o r i t i e s a m id s t t h e P u sh to o ns , a nd t h a t t h ed i s t r i c t s o f H a z a r a a n d D e ra I s r n a i l Khan s p e akn a i n l y H i nd k o , w h ic h i s c o n s id e r e d a d i a l e c to f P u n j a b i . B ut w ha t d o e s t h a t h a v e t o dow i t h d e f i n i n g a n a t i o n o r a n a t i o n a l i t y ? Thec om mu nity of t e r r i t o r y w h ic h S t a l i n c o n s i d e r -ed a s a n e s s e n t i a l re q ui re m en t f o r a g r o up t ob e q u a l i f i e d a s a n a t i o n c a n no t b e ta m pe re dw i t h by a r b i t r a r y l i n e s dra wn i n t h e m i dd leof a n a t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y . I f t h a t w ere so t h ep e o p l e o f t h e I r i s h R e p u b l ic wo uld n o t b ec o n s id e r e d a s a n a t i o n b e ca u se t h e r e a r e s t i l lI r i s h l i v i n g i n U l s t e r . S i m i l a r ly , we wouldb e d en y in g t h e n a t i o n a l i t y s t a t u s t o t h e K urdsb ec au se t h e i r n a t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y i s s p l i t upb e tw e en t h e s t a t e s of I r a n , I r a q , T ur ke y a ndS y r i a . L i ke w is e , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f U i g u r s a ndT a t a r s i n K a z a k h i s ta n , a n d of K a ra -K a lp a ksa n d T a t a r s i n U z b e k i s t a n w ou ld m ake t h e K az -a k h s a n d U zb ek s n o n - n a t i o n a l i t i e s .A s f a r a s t h e q u e s t i o n o f n o n- Pu sh tob o r d er a r e a s i s c on c er ne d , t h e i r s t a t u s c a nb e d ec i d e d on t h e b a s i s o f l i n g u a l an d c u l t u r -a l r e a l i t i e s , an d ac co rd in g t o t h e w is he s o lt h e p e o p le i n h a b i t i n g t h o s e r e g i o n s . C o n cr e te -l y , t h e p e o pl e o f H a za ra a nd D.I. Khan shouldd e c i d e w h et he r o n t h e b a s i s o f l i n g u a l a f f i n i t yt h e y w o ul d w a nt t o b e a p a r t o f P u n j a b o r o nt h e b a s i s o f t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l a n d eco nom ic

i n t e r c h a n g e w i t h t h e P u sh to on p e o p l e t h e yw ou ld w ant t o s t a y i n a P u s ht oo n e n t i t y w i t ha n a u to n om o us s t a t u s . T he sa me r i g h t s h o u l da c c o r de d t o t h e p e o p l e o f Zhob, L o r a l a i a ndQ u et ta d i s t r i c t s i n B a l u ch i s ta n , w he re t h em o t he r to n g u e o f t h e m a j o r i t y i s P u s h t o, t o c i d e wh ic h e n t i t y t h e y would l i k e t o b e a p ao f .B eh in d t h e e x e r c i s e t o p r ov e t h e P a t h a n( an d o th e r s ) a s a n o n - n at i on a l it y l i e s t h er e c o g n i t io n t h a t t h e s o c i a l i s t s must s u p p o rtt h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d et e r m i n a t i o n. T h e re f or e ,i f a g r ou p i s d e f i n e d a s a n o n - n a t io n a l i t y tq u e s t i o n o f i t s s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n d o e s n o ta r i s e . The same p a ra d o x o f c a l l i n g o n e s e l f s o c i a l i s t a n d a t t h e same t im e o p p os in g n a t ia l s e l f- d e te r m in a t io n i s r e s o l v e d b y a n o t h e ra c r o b a t i c f e a t , i . e . by a s si g n i n g p rim ac y t ot h e e x t e r n a l f o r c e s i n t h e d ev el op me nt o f mot i o n . The c r u d e s t e xa mp le o f s u ch a d h e r e n t st h e t h e o ry of e x t e r n a l c a u s a t i o n i s t o b e f oamong t h e l e f t i s t s o f t h e O u tl oo k v a r i e t y wht h i n k t h a t t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i on i n P a k is t a nd i d n o t e x i s t u n t i l Ga nk ov sk y w r o t e t h e P e o po f P a k i s t a n . One c a n l a u g h a t s u c h p e o p l e an o t w o r r y t o o m uc h. But t h e t h e o r y of e x t e rc a u s a t i o n i s q u i t e p e r v as i v e i n P a k i st a n -- r ef o r c e d , n o d o u b t , b y t h e p a r a n o i d p s y c h i c s tp e r p e t u a t e d b y T a k i s t a n f s r u l i n g c l a s s e s . Hd e ep l y t h i s t h e o r y i s p er me at ed i n t h e P a k i sl e f t c an b e gau ged f ro m t h e f a c t t h a t t h eMazdoor-Kisan Pa r t y, whose pronouncemen ts onn a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n i n g e n e r a l a nd w hose a n a l yof t h e q u e s t i on i n S in dh i n p a r t i c u l a r r e p r es o b e r r e f l e c t i o n , a l lo w e d t h e p u b l ic a t i o n o fa t r o c i o - s l y - n d i a l e c t i c a l a n a l y s i s of t h e Bd e sh i s s u e i n i t s o f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r (No. 3I n t h a t a r t i c l e S o hr ab A slam made t h i s e m phs t a t e m e n t : " t h e s o - c a l l e d B a n gl a de s h q u e s t i owas n o t a n a t i o n a l i t y q u e s t i o n . R a t h er , i ta n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n s p i r a c y i n wh ic h A me ri caR us si a and I n d ia w ere i n v ~ l v e d . ~The M ar x is t a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e n a t i o n a lq u e s t i o n c a n b e s o l v ed o n ly i n a s o c i a l i s t ct e x t i s i n t e r p r e t e d by t h e i n t e g r a t i o n i s t s ac h oo s in g f f c l a s s s t r u g g l e " i n s t e a d o f t h e " nat i o n a l m ov em ent." T h i s l e a d s t he m t o r e p e a tt h e c l i c h e s s uc h a s , socialism w i l l a u t o m aa l l y s o l v e a l l t h e p ro bl em s of t h e p e o pl e. "

A s we s h a l l s e e l a t e r t h a t n e i t h e r t h e r e l a ts h i p b et we en c l a s s s t r u g g l e a nd t h e n a t i o n amovement i s a s i m p le f l e i t h e r / o r " p r o p o s i t i o nn o r d o e s s o c i a l is m ~ f a u t o m a t i c a l l y " o l v e t h en a t i o n a l q u e s t io n .L e n in o n t h e N a t i o n a l Q u e s t i o n

The p e t t y b o u rg e o i s- f e u da l n a t i o n a l i s t st h e s m a l l e r n a t i o n a l i t i e s a nd t h e i r s e ce ss ioi s t s o c i a l i s t f r i e n d s i nv ok e t h e a u t h o r i t y oL e ni n t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r a rg u m en t s. They it e r p r e t L e n i n r s pronouncement s i n s u p p o r t o


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n a t i o n s ' r i g h t t o s e l f - de t e r m i n a ti o n a s a n un-q u a l i f i e d j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r s e p ar a ti s m , andq u o te fr om h i s wor ks p a r a g r a p h s s u c h a s t h ef o l l o win g :" I f , i n ou r p o l i t i c a l a g i t a t i o n , wef a i l t o a dv an ce an d ad v o c at e t h e s l o g a nof t h e r i g h t t o s e c e s s i o n , we s h a l l p l a yin to t h e ha n d s , n o t o n ly of t h e b o u r ge -o i s i e , b u t a l s o of t h e f e u d a l la n d l o r d sa nd t h e a b s o lu t i s m of t h e o p p r e s s o rn a t i o n . "( T he R ig h t o f Na t io n s t o S e l f - d e t e r m in a -L 2 -.- 1

The emphas is i n such pa ragrap hs a r e con-v e n i e n t l y o b s cu r e d, a n d t h e r e a d e r s a r e n o tto ld wha t k ind o f na t i ona l i sm Len in was re -f e r r i n g t o , w h at d i d h e mean by t h e r i g h t t os e c e s s i o n , a n d , a b o ve a l l , w ha t i s t h e o t h e ri n s e p a ra b l e a s p e c t of L e ni nv s d i a l e c t i c a lf o r m u la t i o n .Na t io n a l i s m : I t i s v er y c l e a r t h a t i n h i sd i s c o u r s e o n t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n L en in r e -f e r r e d t o b o u r g e oi s n a t i o na l i s m , a nd t o n a-t i o n a l m ovem ents a s e x p r e s s io n s o f t h e g r owthof n a t i o n a l b o u rg e o i s ie : " t h e p r i n c i p l e o fn a t i o n a l i t y i s h i s t o r i c a l l y i n e v i t a b le i nb o ur g eo i s s o c i e t y a nd , t a k i n g t h i s s o c i e t yi n t o d ue a c c o u n t , t h e M a r xi s t f u l l y r e c o g n i ze st h e h i s t o r i c a l l e g i t i m a c y of n a t i o n a l move-m e n t s ." ( C r i t i c a l R em arks on t h e Na t io n a lg u e s t i o n . ) 3 n yna ti on al is m s- - l i ke t h e one of th e NAP--whenhe r e f e r r e d t o t he m a s " im ma tu re n a t i o n a lmovements. " ( 1 b i d . )The R ig h t t o S e l f - d e t e r m in a t i o n : "The r i g h to f n a t i o n s t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n i m p l i e s e x-c l u s i v e l y t h e r i g h t t o i n de pe nd en ce i n t h ep o l i t i c a l s en se , t h e r i g h t t o f r e e p o l i t i c a ls e p a r a t i o n f ro m t h e o p p r e s s o r n a t i o n . S p e c i f -i c a l l y , t h i s demand f o r p o l i t i c a l d em ocracyi m p l i e s c om p le te f r ee do m t o a g i t a t e f o r s e c -e s s io n a nd f o r a r e f e r e n du m on s e c e s s io n byt h e s e ce d i ng n a t i o n . T h i s dem and, t h e r e f o r e ,i s no t th e equ i va l en t o f a demand fo r separa -t i o n , f r a g m e n t a t io n an d t h e f o r m a t i o n ofs m al l s t a t e s . It i m p l i e s o n ly a c o n s i s t e n te x pr e ss io n of s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t a l l n a t i o n a lo p p r e s ~ i o n . ~ he S o c i a l i s t R e v o l u t i o n a ndt h e Ri g ht o f N a ti o n s t o S e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . )

A g i t a t i o n f o r s e l f - de t e r m i n a ti o n i s t h u sd e s ig n e d s o l e l y t o o pp os e n a t i o n a l o p p r e s si o n .U n i t y : T he r i g h t t o s e c e d e i s a n i n t e g r a l p a r tof t h e s o c i a l i s t d e s i r e f o r u n i t y among t h en a t i o n s - - u n i t y w i t h o u t c o e r c i o n .

"The a im of s o c i a l i s m i s n o t o n l y t o endt h e d i v i s i o n of m ankind i n t o t i n y s t a t e sa nd t h e i s o l a t i o n of n a t i o n s i n an y fo rm ,

i t i s n ot o nly t o b r i n g t h e n a t i on sc l o s e r t o g e t h e r b u t t o i n t e g r a t e t he m. "b bid.)

Fur the rmore ,"The p r o l e t a r i a t c a n n o t s u p p o r t an yc o n s e c r a t i o n of n a t i o n a l i s m ; on t h ec o n t r a r y , i t s u p p o r ts e v e r y th i n g t h a th e lp s t o o b l i t e r a t e n a t i o n a l d i s t i n c -t i o n s an d rem ove n a t i o n a l b a r r i e r s . "( C r i t i c a l R em arks o n t h e Na t io n a l Qu e s -t i o n . )F i n a l l y , l e t u s q u o t e a p a r a gr a p h w hi chi m m ed i at e ly p r e c e d e s t h e o ne i n f a v o u r o f a gt i o n f o r t h e r i g h t of s e c e s s io n qu ot ed i n t hb e gi n ni ng o f t h i s s e c t i o n .I n s o f a r a s t h e b o u r g e o i si e of t h e o p pr en a t i o n f i g h t s t h e o p p r e s so r , we a r e a l wi n e v e r y c a s e , a nd more s t r o n g ly t h a n a no ne e l s e , i n f av o u r , f o r we a r e t h e s t a uc h e s t a nd t h e m os t c o n s i s t e n t e n e m ie s oo p p r e s s i on . But i n s o f a r a s t h e b o u r g e oof t h e o p pr e ss e d n a t i o n s t a n d s f o r i t s ob o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l i s m , we s t a n d a g a i n s tWe f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e p r i v i l e g e s and v i oe n c e of t h e o p p r e s s o r n a t i o n , a nd do n oi n an y way c ondone s t r i v i n g s f o r p r i v i l -e g e s on t h e p a r t o f t h e o p p r es s e d n a t i o n( T he R ig h t o f Na t io n s t o S e l f - d e t e r m in a -t i o n . )Many o b s e r v e r s f i n d t h e s e f o r m u la t i o n s b e s e l f - c o n t r a d i c t o r y . A c co rd in g t o t h e s t af o r m a l l o g i c i t may be so. But h is to r y advac e s a c co r d in g t o d i a l e c t i c a l l a w s of m o t io n,a nd t h e s o c i e t y c a nn o t be v ie we d o b j e c t i v e l yw it ho ut r e s o r t t o d i a l e c t i c a l l o g ic . I n t e gr

t i o n of n a t i o n s i s h i s t o r i c a l l y a p ro g r es s ivs t e p , b u t i t c o n ta i n s t h e e le m e nt o f o p p r e s sof s m a l l e r n a t i o n s a nd n a t i o n a l i t i e s . I n s o fa s i t i s p o s s i b l e t o e nd t h e v e r y b a s i s ofn a t i o n a l o p p re s s io n , t h e p r o g r e s si v e f o r c e sm us t work t o wa rd s v o lu n t a r y i n t e g r a t i o n , w h ir e s o l u t e l y o p po s in g n a t i o n a l o p p r e s s i o n a ndn a t i o n a l p r i v i l e g e . A g i t a t io n f o r t h e r i g h tt o s e c e s s i o n i s o ne f or m of s uc h o p p o s i t i o n n a t i o n a l o p p r e s s i o n .How does , t he n , n a t io na l oppres s ion end" I t i s i m po s si b le t o a b o l i s h n a t i o n a l (a ny o t h e r p o l i t i c a l ) o p p re s s io n un de rc a p i t al i s m , s i n c e t h i s r e q u i r e s t h e a b ot i o n of c l a s s e s , i . e . , t h e i n tr o d u c ti o nof s o c i a l i ~ m . ~(D isc uss ion on Se l f -de te r mi na t ion Summe

I s t h e r e a ny s i t u a t i o n i n which a c t u a l s e c e s s i o n o f a n a t i o n c a n be s u p p o r t ed ?


7/14

September 1973 Pa ki st an Forum Page 1

The masses w i l l " r e s o r t t o s e c e s s i o n on l ywhen na t i o na l opp r e s s i on and na t i o na lf r i c t i o n make j o i n t l i f e a b s o l u t e ly i n -t o l e r a b l e a nd h i n d e r a n y an d a l l e co no mici n te r c o ur s e . I n t h a t c a s e, t h e i n t e r e s t sof c ap i t a l i s t devel opm en t and of t h ef re ed om of t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e w i l l beb e st se rv ed by s e c e ~ s i o n . ~ ~( The R i gh t o f N a t i ons t o Se l f - de t e r m i na -tion.) We ho pe t h a t t h e r e a d e r s w i l l e xc us e u sf o r t h e s e l e ng t h y q u o t a t i o n s . C o n si d er in g t h ew h o le s a le d i s t o r t i o n of L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e sth es e days , we thought i t would be bes t t oq u o te f ro m t h e o r i g i n a l . O b v io u s ly , r e a d i n gt h e s e q u o te s d o es n ot s u b s t i t u t e f o r s t u d y in gi n t h e i r e n t i r e t y t h e s e s em in al wo rk s o n t h ena t i o na l ques t i o n by L en in .I n summation we may d es cr ib e t h e Lenin-

i s t p o s i t i o n on t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s t io n a sf o l l o w s :1. The p r o l e t a r ia t - - a n d a l l p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e s--must s t r i v e f o r l a r g e r u n i t s , n o t o n l y b e -cause l a r g e r m arke t s and i n t e g r a t ed econom iesa r e conduc ive t o t h e deve lopm ent o f c ap i t a l i s mand s o c i a li s m , b ut t h ey a l s o f a c i l i t a t e t h ep ro mo ti on o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m an dth e advancement of th e working c l a ss movement.M o re ov er , s o c i a l i s m d e s i r e s a u n i f i e d w o r ldr a t h e r t h a n a s p l i n t e r e d o ne .2. S i nc e " u ni t y a nd i n t e g r i t y n a r e a l s o t h es l ogan s used by t he bo u r geo i s i e and t h e bu reau -c r a c y of t h e o p p r e ss o r n a t i o n i n o r d e r t o c on -t i n u e o r i n t e n s i f y t h e o p p r es s io n o f t h e s m a l l -e r n a t i o n s , t h e s o c i a l i s t s c an no t a ll o w t h e i rd e s i r e f o r l a r g e r u n i t s t o become a t o o l i nt h e ha nd s o f t h e o p p r e s s o r s . T h e r e f o r e , t h e ymust emphasi se most vehement ly th e o th er d i a-l e c t i c a l h a l f o f t h e p r op o s it io n : t h e r i g h to f na t i o ns t o s e l f - de t e r m i na t i on . T hey m us tu ph ol d t h a t r i g h t an d c a r r y o u t e f f e c t i v epropaganda i n i t s b e h a l f .3 . The n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n c an n ot be s a t i s f a c t -o r i l y r e s o l v e d u nd er t h e c a p i t a l i s t s ys te m.O n l y soc i a l i sm i s capab l e of so l v i ng i t .4 . T he on l y cond i t i on unde r w h ich t he so c i a l -i s t s s h ou ld s u p po r t t h e a c t u a l s e c e s s i o n o fa n a t i o n i s when a l l econom ic i n t e r co u r s ebetween i t and th e dominant na t i on becomesun f ea s i b l e , when t h e op p r e s s i on becomes soi n t e n s e t h a t l i v i n g t o g e t h e r b eco mes i m p os s-i b l e , a nd when t h e s e c e s s i o n a c t u a l l y h e l p si n a dv a nc in g t h e p r o d u ct i v e f o r c e s a nd i ns h a rp e n in g t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e .

THE CHARACTER OF PUSHTOON NATIONALISMWhi le app ly in g th e t e rminology of Lenin

a nd S t a l i n t o t h e n a t i o n a l q u e s ti o n i n o u rr e g i o n , m a n y l e f t i s t s s eem t o t h i n k t h a t t h es u b s t an c e o f t h e q u e s t i o n i n o ur r e g i o n i sa l s o t h e same a s i n t h e c a s e s s t u d i e d by L e nand S t a l i n . T hus any g r oup w hi ch r a i s e s t h en a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n i s c a l l e d " n a t i o n a l b o u r g eo i s i e " a n d i s t r e a t e d a s s u ch . A s Mar io Otes a i d , "an e r r o r o f l a ng u ag e h a s l e d t o a ne r r o r of p o l i c y . "

L et u s s e e i f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t hp r e sen t - day Push toon na t i ona l i sm co r r e spondw i t h t h e m ai n f ea t u r e s o f na t i o na l movementd e s c r i b e d by S t a l i n :"The b o u r g e o i s i e p l a y s t h e l e a d i n g r o l e"The ch ief problem fo r th e young bourgeo i s i e i s t h e p r obl em o f t h e m arke t . I tai m i s t o s e l l i t s goods and t o emergev i c t o r i o u s f ro m c o m p e ti t io n w i t h t h eb o u r g e oi s i e of a d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l i t y .Hence i t s d e s i r e t o s e cu re i t s t own?,i t s thomet ma rke t. The market i s t h ef i r s t s c h oo l i n w hic h t h e b o u r g e oi s i el e a r n s i t s n a t i o n a l i ~ m . ~ ~( ~ a r x i s ma nd t h e N a t io n a l Q u e s t i o n .A s f a r a s t h e P us ht oo n b o u r g e o i s i e i sconce r ned , t he r e i s no doub t t ha t it i s r e l at i v e l y sm a l l and unde rdevel oped . Y e t, t he r ea r e t h r e e P a t ha n f a m i l i e s w h ic h a r e c ou nt edamong t h e t o p 3 0 c a p i t a l i s t f a m i l i e s o f P a ks t a n : t h e K ha ta k f a m i l y , t h e H o t i s an d t h eKhanzadahs ( ~ h i b l i , he 22 Fami l i es . ) Thel ead i ng c a p i t a l i s t s among t h e Push toons happt o b e l a n d lo r d s a s w e l l . T h e ir c a p i t a l i s iv e s t e d th ro u gh o ut P a k i s ta n i n e n t e r p r i s e s a sd i v e r s e a s t e x t i l e s , c o n s tr u c ti o n , t r u c k a ssb l i n g , m e c h an i ca l e n g i n e e r i n g , p h a r m a c e u ti cchem i ca l s , t obacco p r oce s s i ng , c ann i ng , i n su

ance and bank ing . I n t h e Sar had p r ov i nce t hm ain conc en t r a t i o n o f t he Pusht oon ca p i t a la p p ea r s t o b e i n s u g ar manufacturing--facilit e d by t h e i r ow nersh ip and con t r o l o f suga rf i e l d s i n t h e p ro v i n c e . P re m ie r S ug ar M i l l sa l l e g e d t o b e t h e l a r g e s t i n A s ia -- is c o n t rol e d b y Mian Gul Jehanzeb, M i r Afzal Khan,Yusuf Khat ta k, and Col . Sh ar i f . The CharsadSugar M i l l s a r e l a r g e l y c o n t r o l le d by t h eH o t i s ( ~ h i b l i , p. c i t . ) The m arket f o r t h er e f i n e d s u g a r e x te n d s a l l o ve r P a k i s ta n , w ha s a r e s u l t o f c o n t r i v ed c o n d i t i o n s su g a rfe t c he s a p r i ce many t imes above th e wor ld mk e t p r i c e ; i n t h e r e c en t p a s t t h e p r i c e ofsuga r had gone up a s much a s Rs . 7 .50 per se( i . . rough ly 40 ce nt s a pound.) Tax ho l id aa nd o t h e r s u b s i d i e s gr a n t ed t o t h e s u g a r i n dt r y h av e he lp e d t h e s u g ar b ar o ns a g r e a t d ei n m u lt i pl y i ng t h e i r f o r t u n e s s o r a p i dl y . Ii s qu i t e unde r s t andab l e , t hen , why t he se cat a l i s t s h av e al wa ys s u p p o r te d a n i n t e g r a t i o ni s t par ty- - th e Muslim League or th e Peop le t sP a r t y .


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Among th e midd le and pe t t y bou rge o i s i e o fP u s h t o o n s t h e r e i s c o n s i d e r a b l e s u pp o r t f o rP a k i s t a n , e i t h e r b e ca u s e t h e i r b u s i n e s s e s e x-t e nd i n t o t h e r e s t o f P a k i s t a n o r t h e y a r ea g e n t s o r c o n t r a c t o r s o f t h e o u t s i d e b o u rg e -o i s i e . P a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g i s t h e c a s eof t h e t r u c k o w ne rs : t h e l o n g d i s t a n c e t r u c k -ing be tween Peshawer and Karac h i i s owned ando p e r a t e d m a i nl y by P a t h a n s , a n d t h e s e t r u c k ss t i l l d i sp la y th e pho tograph o f Ayub Khan- -asy mb ol o f i n t e g r a t i o n i s t s .

Thus t h e n a t i o n a l i s t s t r u g g l e i s n o t l e dby t h e P u s h t o on b o u r g e o i s i e ; i t i s n o t p r i m a r -i l y a s t r u g g l e f o r m a rk et s.I n o r d er t o u n de rs ta n d t h e n a t u r e o fr e g io n a l f r i c t i o n an d c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f y t h ec l a s s b a s i s o f t h e p r e s e n t s t a g e of P us ht oo nn a t i o n a l i s m , i t w ou ld b e n e c e s s a r y t o k e e p i nmind o ne g e n e r a l f e a t u r e of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e lo p -ment an d a p e c u l i a r i t y of n e o c o l o n i a l s o c i e t i e s :(1)u n ev e n d e ve lo p me n t o f d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s

se em s t o be a g e n e r a l l a w of c a p i t a l i s t g ro w th ;t h e d om ina nt b o u r ge o i s ie i n v e s t s i n t h e a r e a swhere i t can maximize i t s p r o f i t s a n d wh ere i tf e e l s i t s c a p i t a l i s s e c u re ; ( 2 ) i n t h e ne o-c o l o n i a l s o c i e t i e s t h e s t a t e p l a ys a f a r morei m p o r ta n t r o l e i n de v el op m en t t h a n i t d i d , f o rexample , i n Europe when i t was a t a compara-t i v e l e v e l o f de v e lo p m e nt . The n a rr ow b a s i so f s t a t e p ow er a l l o w s t h e d om in an t b o u r g e o i s i et o e s t a b l i s h m o n op o li es a nd t o w id en r e g i o n a ld i s p a r i t i e s . I n o r de r t o m a in t ai n i t s p r i v i -l e g e s it r e s o r t s t o r e p r e s s i v e m ea s ur es , p a r -t i c u l a r l y a g a i n s t t h e l e s s d e ve lo pe d r e gi o n s .I n P a k i s t a n t h e e f f e c t s o f s uc h de ve lo p-ment a r e m a n i f es t e d i n t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n ofi n d u s t r i e s i n P u nj ab a nd l ow e r S in d h , a nd i n

t h e g r e a t e r u nd e rd e ve lo p me n t ( o r " n e g l e c t " )o f S a r h a d a n d B a l u c h i s t a n .The "Ne glect t? of S arhad

I n t h e 1 96 1 c en su s t h e p r e s en t t e r r i t o r yo f t h e S a r h a d p r o v i n c e a n d i t s a d j o i n i n g t r i -b a l b e l t c o mp ri se d r o u g h ly 1 7 . 7 % of West Pak i-s t a n ' s p o p u l a t i o n , w h e r e as t h e 1 9 67 c e n s u s ofm a n u f a c t x - i n g s how ed t h a t o n l y 7 % o f t h e f i x e da s s e t s a n d s l i g h t l y more t h a n 6 % o f p r o d u c t io ni n m a n u fa c tu r in g i n d u s t r i e s we re i n t h a t p ro v -i n c e. The f ol lo w in g t a b l e i l l u s t r a t e s t h i sf a c t q u i t e c l e a r ly :

Number o f s e l e c t e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s -t r i e s an d t h e i r g r os s f ix e d a s s e t s ( i nm i l l i o n r a p e e s ) , 1967 .

Type Pa k i s t an SarhadNo. As se ts No. As se ts

T yp e P a k i s t a n S a r h a dNo. As se ts No. As se tsFood 270Tobacco 46T e x t i l e s 7 9 3Chemica l 323Non-meta l l i cm i n e r a l s 90E l e c t r i c a lmach inery 124T r a n s p o r tequipment 125M i s c e l l a n e o u s 4 4 8: ::Figures f o r Sarhad were combined wi th t ho seo f P u n ja b ; t h e f i g u r e s m en ti on e d h e r e a r e t ho n es n o t a c c ou n te d f o r b y t h e r e p o r t e d d i s -t r i c t s of P un ja b; t h i s i s t h e r e f o r e t h e ma ximum f i g u r e f o r S a r h a d, t h e a c t u a l f i g u r e c o ube 0.S o u r c e : C en s us o f M a n u f a c t u r i n g I n d u s t r i e s ,1966-67.

S i m i l a r l y , t h e C e n t r a l G ov e rn m en t' s p o lo f a g r i c u l t u r a l d e ve lo pm en t h a s f a v o u r e d t h eP u n j ab i l a n d l o r d s o v e r t h e o t h e r s . A c co rd in gt o t h e P l a n n i n g C om m is s io n 's s u r v e y o f f a m .m e c h a n i z a t i o n i n 1 9 6 8, o n l y 5 . 4 % o f 'J es t P a ks t a n ' s t r a c t o r s a nd 3.3% of i t s t u b e w e l l s w ei n t h e S arh ad p ro v in c e, d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h ait i s d e f i c i e n t i n f oo d. I n 1 96 4- 65 , i t ss h a r e o f W es t P a k i s t a n ' s f o o d p r o d u c t i o n w asa s f o l l o w s : w h e a t , 7 . 0% ; r i c e , 1 . 1 % ; g ram , 7b a j r a , 4 . 6 % ; jo w a r, 6 . 9 % ; a n d m a i z e , 5 1 % . h m a gn it ud e of t h e l a s t f i g u r e c a n b e q u i t e m il e a d i n g b e c au s e m ai ze p r o d . ~ c t i o n o n s t i t u t e do n l y 6 . 6 % o f t h e a b o v e m e n ti o ne d f o o d i t e m sp l u s b a r l e y . )

The movem ent a g a i n s t t h e l o p s i d e d d e v e l oment a n d a g a i n s t t h e p o l i t i c a l ar ra n g em e n tsc o r re s p o n d in g t o i t , i s t h e r e f o r e waged n o t t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w hi ch h a s s u cc e ed e d i n s p i t eof i t , b u t b y t h e c l a s s e s w ho se g r o w th h a sb e e n s t u n t e d by i t . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e s e c l ae s a r e t h e p e t t y b o u r g e o is i e a nd t h e l a n d l o rd e s i r i n g t o become i n d u s t r i a l c a p i t a l i s t s . Tmain ideo logue o f t h i s movement i s u s u a l l yf ou n d i n t h e e d u c a t e d s eg me nt o f t h e r e g i o n ap e t t y b o u r g e o i s i e w h ic h i s d e n i e d i t s d u e s hi n t h e g ov er nm en t j o b s , b e c a u s e o f t h e n a r r owa nd p a r o c h i a l b a s e of s t a t e p ow er. T h e i reconom ic d e s i r e s a r e p o l i t i c a l l y t r a n s l a t e di n t o t h e demands l o r p o l i t i c a l l i b e r t i e s an da ut on om y o r s e c e s s i o n .I n t h e S a rh a d p r o v i n c e , t h e NAP i s compe d m a i n l y o f s u c h e le m e n t s r a t h e r t h a n o f t hr i s i n g b o u rg e o is i e . I t r e f l e c t s t h e i n t e r e sn o t o f t h o s e who c o n t r o l t h e c a p i t a l i s t m eano f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e p r o v i n c e , b u t o f t h o s e a s p i r e t o c o n t r o l th em . 3 u t h e r e a g a i n t h e


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September 1973 Pa kis tan Forum Page 1

e n t i r e l a nd l or d c l a s s and t h e e n t i r e p e t t yb o u r g e o i s i e a r e n o t u n i t e d b e h in d i t . Si nceth e for ma t ion of t h e NAP government i n Sarhadt h e p a r t y ' s i n f l u e n c e among t h e l a n d l o r d s h a sno d ou bt i n c r e a s e d (w e s h a l l d i s c u s s t h e r e a -s on s l a t e r . ) U n i f i c a t i o n of t h e p e t t y bo u rg e -o i s i e , how ever , ha s con t i nued t o pose a s e r i -ous problem f o r i t .

As has been observed i n Eas t Bengal ande l s e w h e re , t h e r e g i o n a l e d u ca t ed p e t t y b o ur ge -o i s i e t s v i r u l e n t n a t io n a l is m i s promptedmainly by i t s u n d e r -r e p re s e n t at i o n i n t h ec i v i l a nd m i l i t a r y j o bs a n d by t h e s u p p r e s s -i o n of i t s n a t i o n a l l an g ua g e a nd c u l t u r e . I fwe examine th e cas e of t h e Pushtoons o r ofS arh ad i n t h i s r e s p e c t , we w i l l be a b l e t ounder s t and why the e ducated Pushtoon p e t t yb o u r g e o i s i e i s s o d i v i d e d .We do n ot h ave d a t a t o i l l u s t r a t e t h er e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e P u sh to on s i n t h e c i v i ls e r v i c e . The qu ot a sy st em i n t h e c i v i l s e r -

v i c e h a s a l lo w e d c o n s i d e r a b l e r e p r e s e n t a t i o nf o r th e Pushtoons , even though many Punja bi smanage t o o b t a i n f a l s e d o m i ci le c e r t i f i c a t e sa nd c a p t u r e t h e j ob s a l l o t t e d t o t h e P us ht oo nsi n Sa rhad and B a l uch i s t an . The unde r - r ep r e s -en t a t i o n of t h e Push t oons cannot be anyw herenea r t h a t o f t he B eng a l i s and B a l uch i s .W ith r e s p e c t t o t h e r e p r e s e n t a ti o n i nt h e m i l i t a r y a nd t h e a c c e s s t o t h e w i n d f a l lso f m i l i t a r y expend i t u r e , t h e Push toons seemt o b e more f a v o u r a b l y p l a c ed t h a n t h e i r p ro -p o r t i o n i n t h e p o p u l a t i o n wou ld w a r r a n t .Being roughly 13 .5% of P a k i s t a n f s p o p u la t i on ,t he Push t oons , i t i s es t i m a t ed , com pr i se15-20% of i t s a rm ed f o r c e s , i nc l ud i ng h i gh -r a nk i ng p o s i t i o n s . M i l i t a r y e s t a b li s h m e n ts

i n t h e S arh ad p r o v in c e i n c l u d e a i r f o r c e b a s e sa t Peshawer, K oha t, R i s a l pu r and C h i t r a l ;t h e Pa k i s t a n M i l i t a r y A cademy a t K aku l; t h eA i r F o rc e C o l le g e a t R i s a l p u r ; t h e S c h o ol ofA r t i l l e r y and t he A rm oured C or ps Schoo l a tNowshera ; t h e School of M i l i t a r y Engin eer inga t R i s a l pu r ; t h e School o f S i g na l C om munica-t i o n s a t Kohat ; t h e Army School of Music a tAbbottabad; and a number of army bases.There i s a good chunk of Pushtoon p e t t y bourge-o i s i e w hi ch b e n e f i t s f ro m t h e s e a r r a n g e m e n ts .

The s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e s u p p r e s s i o n ofn a t i o n a l l a n g u ag e a nd n a t i o n a l c u l t u r e u s u a l l ys e rv e s a s t h e l e g i t im i z i n g c o ve r f o r t h e r e -d r e s s i n g o f t h e r e a l e co no mic g r i e v a n c e s .B ut more o f t e n t ha n no t such supp r e s s i on i sr e a l , an d t h e p e t t y b o u r g e o i s ie d e v e l op s as e n t im e n t a l a tt a ch m e n t t o i t s l an g ua g e w h il ef i g h t in g f o r i t s v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s . S uc h wast h e c a s e i n E a st B en ga l a nd s u c h i s t h e c a sei n S i ndh . But t h e Pusht oon pe t t y bou r ge o i s i e ,having bee n groomed under th e shadow of th e

un i v e r s i t i e s o f A l i ga r h and Pun jab , ha s neveb e en a s d e vo t e d t o t h e P u s h to l a n gu a ge a s t h eB e n g a l is a nd S i n d h i s ha ve b e e n t o t h e i r s .Because of t h e r eas ons enumera ted abovet h e e d uc a te d p e t t y b o u r g e oi s i e h a s n e i t h e r p

t i c i p a t e d w h ole h e a r t e d l y i n t h e n a t i o n a l moment no r ha s been ab l e t o p r ov i d e a s good ar a t i o n a l i z a t i o n f o r t h e Push t oon na t i ona l i sma s i t s cou n t e r p a r t s i n B enga l and S i ndh haveI t i s n ot s u r p r i s i n g , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t hNAP has had such a l i mi t e d ap pea l among th eP u sh to o ns . I n t h e 19 70 e l e c t i o n s , i t cap t u r1 8 . 8 % o f t h e v o t e a n d 1 6 . 7% o f t h e s e a t s i nt h e r a c e f o r t h e n a t i o n a l as s e m bl y , an d 1 9. 4o f t h e v o t e a nd 3 2 .5 % o f t h e s e a t s i n t h e p rv i n c i a l a ss em bl y r a c e . I n B a l u c h is t a n it f at o e l e c t a s i n g l e c a n d id a t e i n t h e P us ht oo na r e a s f o r e i t h e r o f t h e a s se m b li e s.G iv en t h e f a c t t h a t S a rh a d h a s s u f f e r e db e ca u se o f t h e d i s c r i m i n a t o r y p o l i c i e s o f t h

C e n t r a l G overnment a nd t h a t t h e c l a s s i n t e r eof th e dominant bourg eoi s i e would not a l lo wt h e r e l e a s e o f p r o d u c t iv e f o r c e s i n S ar ha d oc o u ld a r g u e t h a t s e c e s s i o n u n de r t h e p r e s e n tcha r ac t e r o f t h e na t i o na l m ovement w ou ld s t il e ad t o t he g r e a t e r devel opm en t o f t he p r odut i v e f o r c e s an d t o t h e s h a rp e n in g of c l a s ss t r u g g l e .Before r eac hin g such a con clus ion , howei t i s e s s e n t i a l t o examine t h e c h a r a c t e r of " n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e v i n t h e n e o c o l o n i a l c ot r i e s , t h e o p t io n s open t o i t , a nd t h e p o s s ii t i e s o f c l a s s s t r u g g l e f o r t h e w ork ers a ndp e a s a n t s .

Na tio na l Bou rgeois ie or Doubly CompradorB our geo i s i e?

A good s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r s uc h a d i s c u sio n would be t o examine th e behaviour of t h eSa r had NAP and i t s G overnm ent i n t h e p r ov i ncAlthough i t was no t a n autonomous governme nti t s co nd uc t i s f a i r l y i n d i c a t i v e o f t h e d i r et i o n s i n w hic h a n i nd e pe n de n t P u s h t o o n is t a n l i k e l y t o go un de r t h e n a t i o n a l i s t l e a d e r s h iC i t i n g t h e d i s p a r i t i e s b etw ee n t h e P us ht oon and o t he r a r ea s i n te r m s o f deve lopm ena l l o ca t i on of r evenues and pe r cap i t a i ncom ee t c . t h e NAP h a s t r i e d t o m o b i li z e t h e m as sei n o r d er t o w r e s t t h e c o n t r o l o f S a rh a d. A lthough i t c l a i m s t o b e ba s ed o n t h e g e n e r a l la cc ep te d ( ~ a r x i s t ! ) r i n c i p le s of n a t i o n a l i t

i t h a s n ev er b ee n a b l e t o d e f i n e i t s n a t i o n ai s m c l ea r l y . The Sa r had w ing o f t h e pa r t y ,d e s p i t e i t s n a t i o n a l i s t c l a i m s , would n o t e vc o n s i d e r p a r t i n g w i t h t h e n on -P us ht oo n a r e a sof the provin ce , and , by th e same token , coun o t p r e v a i l u pon i t s B a l u c h i s t a n c o u n t e r p a r t


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P ag e 1 6 P a k i s t a n Forum Septem ber 1973

t o a g r e e t o t h e a n n e x at i o n of t h e P u sh to -s p e a k i n g a r e a s o f B a l u c h i s t a n by S a rh a d . Ther e s u l t b e i n g t h e a c c ep t a n c e i n 19 69 of t h e o l da r b i t r a r i l y c r e at e d p ro v i nc e s of B a l u c h i s ta na nd NWFP ( ~ a r h a d ) . The NAP d i d n o t e ve n p r e s sf o r t h e r en am ing o f t h e l a t t e r p ro v in c e a sP u s h t o o ni s t a n . So l o n g a s a s e p a r a t e p r ov i n c ewas c re a te d and the re was a reasona b le chanceo f c o n t r o l l i n g i t , i t d i d n o t m a t t e r w ha t i twas based on. Th is kind of pragmatism on t h ep a r t o f t h e NAP l e ad e rs h ip l e d t o t h e s p l i t -t i n g of A c h a k z a i fs g r ou p w hi ch c a l l e d i t s e l fNAP ( ~u k h t o o n k h w a ) n d w h ic h i n s i s t e d on d ra w-i n g p r o v i n c i a l b o u n d a r i es on a l i n g u a l b a s i s .o ow ever, when t h e cr unch came th e sameAchakza i was found i n th e camp o f t he a r chc e n t r a l i s t Z ul f i k a r A l i B h u t to d u r i n g t h eB a l u c h i st a n c r i s i s o f 1 97 2- 73 . )

The c o n t r a d i c t i o n s o f t h i s p a r t y h av eb ee n e xp os ed a t e v e r y s t e p i n i t s p o l i t i c a lconduc t . Whi le i t y e l l e d a n d w a i l e d a b o u tr e gi o na l d i s p a r i t i e s , i t a wa rd ed a n e l e c t o nt i c k e t t o one of t h e m ain a r c h i t e c t s o f d i s -p a r i t y i n i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n , Ghulam F ar oo qu e,a nd made him t h e m i n i s t e r f o r i n d u s t r i e s a f t e r -wards . While i t p r o t e s t e d a g a i n s t t h e P u n ja b i(and Ka th iawar i ) domina t ion , i t i n v i t e d t h ev e r y same c a p i t a l i s t s t o f td e ve lo p wSarhad .While i t u se d t h e p r o t e c t i o n of n a t i o n a l l a n -g ua ge s a s a p r i n c i p a l i s s u e i n i t s s t r u g g l ea g a i n s t One U n i t , i t a d op te d Urdu a s t h e o f f i -c i a l la n g ua g e o f t h e p r o v i nc e n o so o n e r t h a ni t formed t h e Government. While i t p o r t r a y e di t s e l f a s t h e w el l -w i s he r o f t h e w o r k er s , oneof t h e f i r s t a c t s of i t s Government was t ob an s t r i k e s . W hile i t s g r e a t e s t c l ai m ha sb e en t o r e p r e s e n t t h e P u s ht oo n p e a s a n t s , a tno t im e i n P a k i s t a n ' s h i s t o r y t h e r e p r e s s i o na g a i n s t t h e p e a s a n t s ha d b e e n g r e a t e r t h a ndur ing th e NAPTs ten ur e of o f f i ce . Whi le i tbragged about democracy and secular ism, i tc o n se n te d t o t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f e m er ge nc ypowers and made Mu ft i Mahmood t h e C hief Min i-s t e r o f S a r ha d . Wh il e i t c o ns i de r ed i t sname t o be synonymous wi t h maximum auto nom y,i t a g re e d t o a c o n s t i t u t i o n wh ic h g ra n te d t ot h e p r o v i n c e s f e w e r po we rs t h a n t h e 1 9 3 5 A ctof B r i t i s h I n d i a . T h i s , t h e n , i s a b r i e fl i s t o f t h e s e l f - c o n t r a d i c t i o n s of t h e NAP,t h e s e l f - s t y l e d c ha mp io n of t h e P u s ht o onmasses .

No wonder , the n , th a t when th e fe de ra lG overnm ent f o r c e d i t s m i n i s t r y t o r e s i g n , t h ePushtoon pe opl e showed no sympathy f o r i t .Accord ing t o th e Mazdoor -Kisan le ad e r Afz a lBangash id-o- aha ad, Sep t .- 0 c t . 1 9 7 3 ) , A jmalK ha ta k t o l d him t h a t h e f e a r e d t h a t t h e P us h-t o o n n a s s e s m ig ht l y n c h t h e NAP l e a d e r s . TheC e n t r a l G o vernm ent was s o c e r t a i n o f i t s u n-p o p u l a r i t y t h a t it d i d n o t e ve n b o t h e r t oi mp os e s e c t i o n 1 4 4 ( b a n on a s s e m b ly ) i n S a r h add u r i n g t h e o p p o s i t i o n p a r t i e s ? n on - c oo p e ra t io n

a g i t a t i o n , a l t h o u g h i n Pu nj ab a nd S i nd h i t hadone so . And ind eed th e Government was ri g h tWal i Khan? s campaign f i z z l e d ou t .The P u sh t oo n " n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e " i s nu n i qu e i n t h i s r e s p e c t . The p o s t- w o r ld War I

per iod o f fe r s u s numerous examples o f co un t r iwh ich won independence from t h e i r c o l on ia lr u l e r s u n de r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e c l a s s e sw hi ch we re p e t t y b o u r ge o i s r a t h e r t h a n f e u d a lo r b o u r g e o i s , a n d w h ic h w e re r a d i c a l l y n a t i o ni s t i n t h e i r id e o lo g y . Y e t, a l l o f them s u ccumbed t o im per ia l i sm . Prominent among th es ew e re t h e a vo w ed ly a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t r e g im e s ofSukarno i n Indo nes ia and of Nkrumah i n Ghana.F a i l i n g t o e x t r i c a t e t he m se lv e s f ro m t h e i mpi a l i s t s t r an g l e h ol d i n a n a t i o n a l i s t fram ew ot h e y p aved t h e way f o r m i l i t a r y t a k e -o v e r s a nf o r more r e p a c i o u s e x p l o i t a t i o n by i m p e r i a l i sO t h er s rem ain ed i n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s a s t h e yd r op p ed e v en t h e p r e t e n s e o f a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s mA mi lc ar C a b r al g i v e s t h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s f a i lu r e of t h e n a t i o n a l i s t w b o u r g e o i s ie w :"The s u b m i ss i on of t h e l o c a l ? r u l i n g ?c l a s s t o t h e r u l i n g c l a s s of t h e dom ina-t i n g c o un t ry l i m i t s o r p r e v e n t s t h e d e v-e lo pm e nt o f t h e n a t i o n a l p r o d u c t i v ef o r c e s . But i n t h e c o nc r e t e c o n d i t i o n so f th e p resen t -day wor ld economy t h i sdependence i s f a t a l and t h u s t h e l o c a lpseudobourgeo is ie , however s t ro ng lyn a t i o n a l i s t i t may b e , c a n no t e f f e c t i v ef u l l f i l i t s h i s t o r i c a l f u nc t io n ; i t can-n o t f r e e l y d i r e c t t h e de ve lo pm en t of t h ep r od uc ti ve f o r c e s ; i n b r i e f i t cannot bea n at io na l b o ~ r g e o i s i e . ~ ~( R e v o l u t i o n i n G u i ne a. )C a b r a l ' s d e s c r i p t i o n of t t p se u d ob o u rg e o i

s i e " i s v e r y a p t f o r t h e f o r c e s r e p r e se n t e d bt h e NA P--forces w hi ch h av e l i t t l e t o d o w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t mode o f p r o d u c t i on . E ven when t h e c a p i t a l i s t mode i s f a i r l yw e l l- d e ve l o pe d a nd t h e l o c a l " b o u r g e o is i e " hsome s h a r e i n o r c o n t r o l o v e r i t , i t s s t r u c tu r a l t i e s w i t h i m p e ri a li s m r e l e g a t e t h e econot o p e r p e t u a l u n de r de v el o pm e nt . F o r , t h e n , t hl o c a l de ve lo pm en t i s p e r m i s s i b l e o n ly t o t h ee x t e n t a n d o n ly i n t h e s e c t o r s wh er e i t compm en ts i m p e r i a l i s t i n t e r e s t s . A ndre G underF r an k , t h e l e a d i n g a u t h o r i t y o n La t i n Am er icunderdeve lopmen t , r e f e r s t o such deve lopmenta s l f lumpendeve lopmen t 'f and such bou rge o is iea s " lu mp en b o u r g e o i s i e . " C o n t r a r y t o t h e p ou l a r n o t i o n s , s u c h l o c a l b ou r g e o is i e , i n s t e a d

of h a vi ng a n t a g o n i s t i c c o n f l i c t s w i th t h e imp e r i a l i s t s , a c t u a l l y p r o f i t s from t h e n a t i o nunderdeve lopment. As Frank ha s remarke d:" I f d ep en de nc e w er e p u r e l y ' e x t e r n a l ? ,c o u ld b e a r g ue d t h a t o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i oe x i s t w hi ch w ou ld p e rm i t t h e ? n a t i o n a l i


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o r l au to no m ou s? s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o bl emof underdevelopment. But i n our view,s uc h a s o l u t i o n d o e s no t e x i s t - - p r e c i s e -l y b e c a u s e d e pe n de n ce i s i n d i v i s i b l e andm akes t h e b o u r g e o i s i e i t s e l f d e p e n d en t ."(Lumpenbourgeoisie and Lumpendevelopment.)T he lo o s e u s a g e o f t h e t e rm b o u rg e o i s i eh a s l e d t o a s eq u en c e o f t r a g e d i e s o f e r r o ri n P a k is t an . A non-bourgeo is ie o f t h e Push-t o o n s i s c a l l e d a " n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o is i e w a nd

i s p i t t e d a g a i n s t a P u n ja b i ( o r K a t hi a w ar i )" i m p e r i a l i s t b o u r g e o is i e u when t h e l a t t e r i sno more t ha n a comprador oi7 "lumpentt bou rge-o i s i e . It i s a b o u rg e o i s i e w h ic h , i n s t e a d ofp l a y i n g i t s h i s t o r i c a l p r og r e ss i ve r o l e , h asg o t t h e c o u n t r y t a n g l e d i n t h e web o f i mp er -i a l i s t a i d an d t r a d e , m o rt ga gi ng t h e c o u n t ryf o r $5 b i l l i o n d e b t an d s p en d in g 20% o f t h ef o r e i g n e xc ha ng e e a r n i n g s on s e r v i c i n g t h e s el o a n s . I t s much heralded "economic miracle"i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e f a c t t h a t n e a r l y one-h a l f o f P a k i s t a n ' s G ro s s D o me st ic P rod u c tc o n s i s t s of t h e s o - c a l le d s e r v i c e s , w he re aso n ly 13% i s c o n t r ib u t e d b y m a n u fa c tu r in g - -t h a t t o o n o t o f t h e k i n d w h ic h w ou ld l a y asound found a t i on f o r economic growth. I t si n t e r e s t l i e s i n k eep in g P a ki s t an a s a nu n de r de v el o pe d a p pe nd ag e i n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t -imp os ed wo r ld d iv i s io n o f l a b o u r .

A p s e u d o b o u r ge o i s i e , l i k e t h e o ne r e p r e -se nt ed by t h e NAP, i s e v e n m ore v u ln e ra b le t oc o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s . B es etw i t h p o o r ly d e v el op ed i n d u s t r i a l i n f r a s t r u c -t u r e an d s o c i a l o ve rh ea d c a p i t a l , a nd b e i ngdevoid of t ec hn ic a l and manage r ia l know-how,i t t e n d s t o l o o k o u tw ar ds f o r i t s r e q u i r e dn e ed s . I m p o r t a ti o n of o u t s i d e c a p i t a l b e-comes i t s d i r e n e c e s s i t y . T he n, u s i n g i t sp o l i t i c a l po we r, b a se d o n n a t i o n a l i s m , i t cana s s u r e i t s e l f of t h e crum bs of t h a t d e v e lo p -m en t, s u ch a s c o n s t r u c t i o n an d t r a n s p o r t a t i o nc o n t r a c t s , a g e n c i e s , p r o f e s s i o n a l an d m an ag er -i a l j o b s, a nd s e r v i c e w i n d f a l l s , a nd c an i n -v e s t i t s s u r p l u s a s a j u ni o r p a r t n e r o f t h eo u t s i d e b o u r g e o is i e .

W i th in a m u l t i n a t i o n a l u n io n i t may com-b i ne t h e t h r e a t o f s e c e s s i o n w i t h i n c e n t i v e ss u c h a s re d uc e d t a x e s , a n t i - l a b o u r l a ws an dfreedom t o r e p a t r i a t e p r o f i t s i n o rd e r t o l u r et h e b i g b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h e d om in an t r e g i o n .( 1 n P a k i s t a n t h e NAP t r i e d t o e x p l o i t t h e b i gb o u r g e o i s i e l s n e r v ou s n e ss a b o ut t h e P e o p l e t sP ar ty t o a t t r a c t it t o S a r ha d a nd B a l u c h i s t a n . )S uc h b e h a v io u r o n th e p a r t o f t h e b o u rg e o i s i eo f l e s s de v el o pe d r e g i o n s h a s be e n n o t i c e de ve n i n t h e c o u n t r i e s a s a dv an ce d a s t h e U ni-t e d S t a t e s , w he re t h e s o u t h e rn s t a t e s b endo v er b ac kw ar ds t o a t t r a c t c a p i t a l f r om t h eN o r t h e a s t , w h i l e a t t h e same t i m e wa vi ng t h ef l a g o f c o n fe d e ra c y an d s i n g i n g D i x i e .

H ow ev er , i n t h e u n d e rd e v e lo p e d c o u n t r i e st h e dominant bour geo is i e , be i ng a mere comprad o r a nd b e i ng p o l i t i c a l l y i mm at ur e, f a i l s t or e s o l v e t h e n a t i o n a l o r r e g i o n a l q u e s t i o n ev et o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n of t h e p r op e rt i ed c l a s s e so f t h e r e g io n . S e c e s s io n th e n b ec om es th er a l l y i n g c r y of t h e a s p i r i n g b o u r g e o is i e o ft h e l e s s d ev el op ed r e g i o n s . I f i t s u c ce e d s ig a i n i n g p o l i t i c a l i nd ep en de nc e, it t u r n s t oi m p e r ia l i s t c o u n t r i es t o f u l l f il t h e same ob-j e c t i v e s i n a m ore s h a m el e s s m ann er t h a n t h ecomprador bourgeo is ie which had prev ious ly domi n a t ed i t .

The cyc le o f im per ia l i sm and underdeve loment b e g i n s on ce a g a i n . N e i t h e r a r e t h e pr o -d u c t i v e f o r c e s r e l e a s e d n o r a r e t h e d e m oc r a tir i g h t s r e s t o r e d . On t h e c o n t r a r y t h e e x p l o i tt i o n by t h e n ou ve au b o u r g e o i s i e a nd i m p e r i a l ib ec om es more b r u t a l , a nd th e r e p re s s iv e m a ch ie r y i s b u i l t up a s n e ve r b e f o r e . The r e s t r a ii n g i n f l u e n c e w hi ch t h e t h r e a t o f s e c e s s i o n hon t h e f e d e r a l a u t h o r i t i e s i s now removed.The pu bl ic op in i on beyond t h e new bor der s whiu se d t o g e t a r o us e d a bo u t n a t i o n a l p e r s e c u t i onow b e c o ne s d orma nt a n d t r e a t s t h e m a t t e r a sa n i n t e r n a l c o n f l i c t w i t h i n t h e new n a t i on .W hi le t h e f r i e n d s h i p c i r c l e o f t h e " b ou rg eo i-s i e " w i de n s , t h e m as s es a r e c u t o f f f r om t h eh e l p w hi ch t h e y u se d t o g e t d i r e c t l y a nd l e g al y f rom th e i r f o rm e r c o u nt ry m en .The above scenar io i s o b ta in e d e v en i nBangladesh , where t h e n a t io na l movement wass i g n i f i c a n t l y m ore a d va nc ed t h a n t h e P us ht oo nna ti on al movement and where independ ence wasmade i n e v i t a b l e by t h e i m ma tu re p o l i t i c a l b e -hav io ur o f th e dominant bou rge o is ie . But no-t h i n g r e a l l y ch an ge d i n t h e new S t a t e . Then a t i o n a l mi dd le c l a s s , t o p a r a p hr a se Fan on,s im p ly d i s c o v e re d i t s h i s t o r i c m i s s i o n of b e-i n g a n i n t e r m e d i a r y .W i th o ut a f u n d a m e n ta l b r e a k w i t h t h ei m p e r i a l i s t -d om in at ed s t r u c t u r a l r e l a t i o n s h i pth e r e c a n b e no q u e s t io n of i n d e p e n d e n t n a t ioa l d e ve l op m en t . O b vi o us ly t h e c l a s s e s wh ic hb e n e f i t f ro m a nd p e r p e t u a t e t h i s d ep en de nc ec an no t b e t h e a g e n t s o f n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n .U n d e rs c o ri n g t h i s p o i n t Le Duan, F i r s t S e c r ea r y of t h e V ie t Nam W o rke r s? P a r ty , s t a t e d ," i n t h e p r e s e n t e r a , n a t i o n a l i nd ep en de nc e,d em o crac y an d s o c i a l i s m a r e i n s e p a ra b le . ! ! (TJViet-Namese Revolution. )

The Po s i t i on of Peasa n ts and WorkersSo f a r we h a ve c o n s id e re d th e P u s h to o n n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n m a in ly i n b o u rg e o is t e r m s , i . e . t o exam ine t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f i nd ep en de n t c a p i t a l i s t d e v e lo p m e n t , b o u rg e o i s d e m o c raand l e s s r e s t r i c t e d c l a s s s t r u g g l e . Our a n a


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sh ow s t h a t u n d e r t h e g i v e n m a t r i x o f w o r l di m p e r i a l i s t r e l a t i o n s a nd t h e l o c u s o f t h e" n a t i o n a l b o u rg e o i si e v i n t h a t m a t r i x t h e s ep o s s i b i l i t i e s d o n o t e x i s t . H ow eve r, ha d o u rc o n c lu s i o n b e en d i f f e r e n t i t would not havee nde d t h e m a t t e r , f o r we a r e n o t m e re l y i n t e r -e s t e d i n t h e e v o l u t i o n of t h e p r o d u c ti v e f o r -c e s. We a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e r e v o lu t i o nw h ic h w ould d e s t r o y t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f p r o -d u c t i o n b as ed on t h e d i v i s i o n o f s o c i e t y i n t oe x p l o i t i n g a nd e x p l o i t e d c l a s s e s .

T h e r e f o r e , i t i s n e c e ss a ry f o r u s t oe xa mine t h e p o s i t i o n an d a t t i t u d e s o f t h eP u sh to o n p e a s a n t s a n d w o r ke r s i n a u n i f i e dm u l t i n a t i o n a l P a k i s ta n .The immedia te enemy of th e pe asa n t r y , th el a r g e s t s eg me nt o f t h e P u sh t oo n p o p u l a t i o n , i st h e P u s h to o n l a n d l o r d a g a i n s t whom i t i s engag-ed i n a f i e r c e s t r u g g l e . I n t h e p a s t fe w y e a rsn e a r l y o ne h un dr ed p e a s a n t s s a c r i f i c e d t h e i rl i v e s i n t h e s c o re s of b a t t l e s t h e y f ou gh t

a g a i n s t t h e p o l ic e , t h e m i l i t i a , t h e l e v y , t h eP u kh to o n Z alm e an d t h e p r i v a t e a r m i e s o f t h el a n d l o r d s. T h e i r k i l l e r i n e a ch i n s t a n c e wasa P u sh t oo n , a n d m os t o f t h e c l a s h e s t o o k p l a c edu r i ng t h e Government of t h e NAP. The pea s-a n t s know fr om t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t h e f o rm a -t i o n o f a l f P u sh t o o n G ov er nm e nt n o n l y i n t e n s i -f i e d t h e i r o p p r e s s i o n . They know b e t t e r t h a na ny on e e l s e t h a t t h e e s t a b l is h m e n t of a n i n -d e p en d e nt P u s h t o o n i s t a n u n de r t h e p r e s e n tc i r c u m s t a n c e s wo ul d s i m p l y a mo un t t o g r a n t i n ga b l a n k ch eq ue t o t h e s e l a n d l o r d s t o e s c a l a t et h e i r m ur de ro us o n s l a u gh t a nd t o c u t o f f t h es u p p o r t wh ic h t h e p e a s a n t s h a v e b e e n r e c e i v i n gfro m t h e t o i l i n g p eo pl e i n o t h e r p a r t s ofP a k i s t a n .

L i v in g i n P a k i s t a n n o t o n l y b r oa d en s t h es u pp o rt b a s e f o r t h e i r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h el a n d l o r d s , b u t a l s o p r o v i d e s th em w i t h a n e s -c ap e i n ca s e of t h e i r f a i l u r e t o s t o p e v ic t i o n .T h ou sa n ds of P u s ht o o n p e a s a n t s , e j e c t e d f ro ml a n d , a r e w o rk in g a s f a c t o r y w or k er s a nd l a b o u r -e r s t h ro u gh o ut P a k i s t a n , e s p e c i a l l y i n K a r ac hi ,t h e p ri m at e c i t y o f P a k is t a n . A c co rd in g t osome es t imates o ve r 8 0% o f a l l t h e f a c t o r yw o r ke r s i n K a ra c h i a r e P u s h t o o n s, a n d a l a r g ep r o p o r t i o n o f P u s h t oo n s a r e t o b e f o un d am ongt h e d oc k w o r ke r s, c ab d r i v e r s , r o ad d i g g e r sand o t h e r o c c up a ti o na l c a t e g o r i e s i n t h a t c i t y .The 1 9 72 P o p u l a t i o n C en s us d i d n o t a s k t h eq u e s t i o n o n m o th e r t o ng u e , b u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h em a s si v e m i g r a t i o n ( n e a r l y o ne m i l l i o n b e tw e e n1 9 6 1 a nd 1 9 72 ) t h a t h a s t a k e n p l a c e i n K a r ac h iand th e p reponderance o f Push toons among th es ei n - m i g r a n t s , we c a n s a f e l y e s t i m a t e t h a t nowt h e r e a r e n o f e w e r t h a n 6 00 , 00 0 P us h to o n s i nK a r a c h i . T h e se a n d o t h e r P u s h t oo n s w o r k i n gi n S i n dh an d P u n ja b m ust b e t a k e n i n t o c on -s i d e r a t i o n when we t a l k a b o u t t h e P u s h to o n s o r

a b o u t t h e P u sh t oo n n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n . Theyc a n n o t b e d i s m i s s e d s i m p ly a s p o p u l a t i o n s o fo t h er p ro vi nc es . I n t h e f i r s t p la c e t h e i rm i g r a t i o n w as p r o m pt ed b y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t si n t h e P us ht oo n a r e a s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e m a ss ive v i c t i o n o f p e a s a n t s f a c i l i t a t e d by Ayub K hal a n d r e f o r m s a n d i t s c o r o l l a r y t h e " G re en R evl u t i o n . " S ec o nd ly , t h e y c o n t i n u e t o m a i n t a i nt i e s w i th t h e i r ki n fo lk b ac k horne, whom t h e ys u p p o r t f i n a n c i a l l y a n d t o whom t h e y c a n r e -t u r n when l a i d o f f f ro m w or k, a s h ap pe ne d i nO c t o b e r 1 9 7 2 .

The i n t e g r a t i o n o f P a k i s t a n , t h e r e f o r e ,h a s d e f i n i t e a d v an t a g es t o t h e P u s ht oo n wo rki n g c l a s s w hi ch d e r i v e s i t s s u st e na n ce i n o tp r ov i nc e s. S i nc e t h e i r p e as a nt r e l a t i v e s i nt h e P u s h t oo n a r e a s d e pe nd u p on t h i s i n co me ,t h e y c a n a l s o b e c o ns id e re d t o b e d i r e c t l y eo n o mi c al ly i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e r e s t o f P a k i sBeyond t h e n ar r o w c o n s i d e r a t i o n s of j o b s a n dincom e, t h i s s i t u a t i o n ha s f a r d ee pe r s o c i a li m p l i c a t i o n s . The P us ht oo n p r o l e t a r i a t i nK a r a c h i , b e s i d e s b e i n g t h e m os t n u me ro u s, i sa l s o t h e most m i l i t a n t . He h a s a c t i v e l y a nds e l f l e s s l y p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e s t r ug g l e o ft h e wo rk in g c l a s s . H i s c l a s s c o n s ci o u sn e s sh a s b e e n d e m on s tr a te d c o n s i s t e n t l y , e s p e c i a ld u r in g t h e l an gu a ge r i o t s i n S in dh i n 1 97 2when h e r e f u s e d t o b e m i s le d b y t h e Ur du b i gHe h a s u nd o u b t e dl y b e e n a g r e a t a s s e t t o t h ew o r ke r s of a l l e t h n i c g r ou p s i n Si n dh , a n d ei n P un ja b. H i s p r o l e t a r i a n i z a t i o n a nd d e v elm en t o f new c l a s s c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a s ha d a s at a r y e f f e c t o n t h e p e a s a n t m ovement i n S ar h aT hro ug h h i s t i e s w i t h h i s v i l l a g e h e h a s be -come a c a r r i e r of p r o l e t a r i a n i d eo l og y t o t hc o u n t r y s i d e .

E x p r e s s i o n s o f P us h to o n p e a s a n t s , s o l i da r i t y w i t h t h e w o rk er s t h ro u g ho u t P a k i s t a n cb e d e m o n s t r a t e d b y n um er ou s e x a m p l e s. We s hc i t e o n l y two h e r e : (1) i n t h e wake o f t h em a s s a cr e o f w o r k e r s i n K a r a ch i i n O c t o b e r 1 9t h e p e a s a n t s o f S a r h a d t o o k o u t a tw o m i l e - l op r o c e s s i o n i n t h e P esh aw er c i t y a nd h e l d a gg a n t i c r a l l y i n o r de r t o e x pr e ss t h e i r s o l i di t y w i t h t h e w o rk e rs o f K a r a ch i ; ( 2 ) a b o u t am onth p r i o r t o t h a t 1 4 p e a s a n t s o f M ard an d it r i c t w ere a r r e s t e d w h il e o n t h e i r way t o h et h e p e a s a n t s o f M a la k an d , who w e r e e n g ag e d ia b a t t l e w i t h t h e l a n d l o r d s ; t h e y w er e s e n tec e d t o 1 0 y e a r s , i m pr is on m en t b e c a u s e t h e y ga s ta te m en t t o t h e P o l i t i c a l Agent t h a t f o rt h e s a ke of t h e s o l i d a r i t y of t h e t o i l i n gp e o p l e t h e y wo ul d n o t h a v e h e s i t a t e d e v e n f rog o in g t o K a r ac h i.

S i m i l a r s e n t i m e n t s c a n b e d i s c e r n e d amot h e P u sh t oo n w o r k e r s i n S a rh a d . L a s t y e a r ,t h i s w r i t e r h appened t o a t t e n d a r a l l y o f t hs t r i k i n g w o rk e rs o f t h e Y u s u fz a i T e x t i l e M i li n T a k h t b h a i , n e a r M ard an . Th e s u b j e c t m a t t


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The Pushtoon National Question

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