TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS

TRIBES

• Many different tribes compose Afghanistan
• Some have been around for hundreds of years
• Tribes provide protection, resolve disputes, and provide financial support
• Tribes are seperated- can't marry into other tribes
• Tribal warfare is common

Untitled Slide

TWO TRIBES IN AFGHANISTAN

• Pashtuns
• Hazaras

PASHTUNS

• Been around for 2000 years
• Sunnis- believe that any muslims can rule, 90% of Muslims
• Primary supporters of Taliban in Afghanistan
• They have a ancient code of conduct
• This code is called "Pashtunwali"

The Taliban are the only type of "government" rule in Afghanistan. The Taliban is mostly comprised of Pashtuns. All other tribes in Afghanistan comprise the "Northern Alliance" against the Taliban and may be our saving grace in taking down the Taliban.

PASHTUNWALI

• The main aspect is honor (nang)
• To lose honor is to be disgraced, excluded, and an "outsider"
• They must provide hospitality and sanctuary to those who need it
• Revenge (badal) is accepted (eye for an eye)
• Jirgas are peace keepers that settle up to 95% of disputes

THE HAZARAS

• 1/5 of the population
• Shiites- believe only descendants of Mohammed can rule
• They are oppressed and ranked low in social status
• Speak Persian, while Pashtuns speak Pashto
• They immigrated to Hazarajat (the central highlands) from rural areas in 1950's

PASHTUNS VS HAZARAS

• Hazaras can only get undesirable and unskilled labor jobs
• They can only marry other Hazaras
• They are discriminated because of their beliefs (being Shiite)
• And also their appearance- more Asian-like because of where they originated
• Gaining more freedoms, and also publicity thanks to "The Kite Runner"

The Hazaras are speaking up and trying to rise above their inferiority.

WHERE ELSE HAVE WE SEEN THIS?

• African Americans- who were seen as a minority
• Discriminated for physical reasons- having a different skin color
• Only could get inferior jobs and inferior education