"The Pashtuns form the world's largest tribal society—between 60 and 70 million people spread across 350-400 tribes.
They inhabit a harsh corridor of mountains and valleys stretching from southern Afghanistan through northwestern Pakistan, a region that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires for millennia.
These people speak Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language with ancient roots possibly connecting to Scythian dialects.
Until 1923, the term "Afghan" referred exclusively to Pashtuns before expanding to include all Afghan citizens.
Their society operates through an intricate tribal system organized into four major confederations: the Sarbani, Bettani, Gharghashti, and Karlani.
The two largest groups—the Durrani and Ghilji—together account for two-thirds of all Afghan Pashtuns.
Pashtun culture rests on three pillars: fluency in Pashto, adherence to Pashtunwali (their strict honor code), and patrilineal tribal descent.
The jirga—a council of elected elders—serves as their primary governing institution, making decisions through consensus in a society that values equality among fighting men.
This system has proven remarkably resilient, surviving centuries of conquest attempts by larger powers.
Their martial reputation stems from documented conflicts spanning from Alexander the Great's campaign in 330 BCE through modern guerrilla warfare.
Mountain warfare, intimate knowledge of terrain, and fierce independence have repeatedly stymied armies with superior numbers and technology.
The Pashtuns established significant empires including the Hotak Dynasty (1722-1729) and the Durrani Empire (1747-1826), which at its height controlled territory from Kashmir to the Persian provinces of Khorasan.
Modern Pashtun communities exist throughout South Asia...
Many Indian Pashtuns have lost Pashto language ability over generations, speaking Hindi, Urdu, or Punjabi instead.
Yet they maintain distinct cultural markers including traditional dances like the Attan, specific martial practices, and strong community networks.
The partition of India in 1947 [by the departing British deliberately] divided Pashtun territories along the Durand Line, creating lasting political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan that continue today."
https://x.com/archeohistories/status/20 ... 3527658592
Afghanistan today
Re: Afghanistan today
Re: Afghanistan today
Since yesterday, April 23, was the 13th anniversary of Mullah Omar's repose, many Afghans are publishing retrospectives about his life
"A brief introduction to the life and struggle of Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid :
Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid was a symbol of resilience and struggle.
He was born in 1960 in Kandahar. He was a religious scholar and a prominent fighter in the jihad against the Soviet Union, during which he even sacrificed one of his eyes in battle.
In 1994, Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) founded the Islamic Emirate with the aim of ending chaos in the country and implementing [Islamic spiritual] law.
In 1996, after the capture of Kabul, he was appointed as Amir.
After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, he stood firm with courage, led a strong resistance against the occupation, and in 2013 he passed away from this mortal world.
However, his ideological and militant legacy continues to play a fundamental role in Afghanistan’s history and its current system."
https://x.com/burhan_uddin_0/status/2047639581638500472
Re: Afghanistan today
"Interesting Views of World-Renowned Figures, Politicians, and Intelligence Officials on Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid:
Written by: Engineer Umer Niazi
Richard Holbrooke (Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan):
“Mullah Omar was one of those figures about whom the world knew very little, yet his influence was extraordinarily vast. He was a ‘spiritual leader’ who, with utmost simplicity, challenged the world's greatest power (America).”
Bruce Riedel (Former CIA Officer and Obama Advisor):
“Mullah Omar served as the ‘cement’ for the Taliban, holding the group together. He was never inclined toward displays of power, and that was the secret to his vast influence.”
Robert Gates (Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director):
“It’s astonishing that a man, without ever appearing on TV or speaking constantly on radio, could retain the loyalty of thousands of fighters until his death. This reflects the ‘spiritual power’ of his character.”
Michael Scheuer (Former Head of CIA’s ‘Osama bin Laden Unit’):
“Mullah Omar was a true Afghan. For him, protecting the ‘guest’ (Osama) was more important than safeguarding his own government. Although this was devastating for America, to him it was a moral and religious duty that he fulfilled at the cost of his life.”
Benazir Bhutto (Former Prime Minister of Pakistan):
“Mullah Omar was not someone who could be pressured. He had an ‘iron will.’ When he said ‘no,’ no one could change it.”
- Hamid Gul (General [head of Pakistan's powerful ISI, the military intelligence agency who knew the Afghan fighters against the Soviet occupation very well):
“When I saw Mullah Omar, he was sitting in an extremely simple room. There was no sign about him that indicated he was the ruler of a country. He was a man free from the intoxication of power and was struggling solely for his faith.”
Pakistan’s Intelligence Officials:
“He was a man of few words. Whenever faced with an issue, he would decide very quickly. He was distant from the diplomacy of the modern world, but he understood the psychology of his people very well.”
Yvonne Ridley (British Journalist and Captive):
“Although the West portrayed him as a tyrant, the treatment of prisoners in his system was in accordance with the teachings of the Quran. When I heard about his simplicity and justice, my perspective completely changed.”
Wahid Muzhda (Afghan Analyst and Author):
“The most interesting trait of Mullah Omar was that he did not believe in ‘bargaining’ in politics. When America demanded Osama bin Laden from him, he refused solely on the basis of Afghan honor and faith, even though he knew his government would end.”
Afghan Generals from [the Communist era 1978-1989]):
“Mullah Omar spoke very little in military meetings, but his one short sentence could change the decision of the entire meeting.”"
https://x.com/sHaidarHashmi/status/2047535915342467242
Re: Afghanistan today
I'll return to the question of Mullah Omar and Osa.ma's relationship, which was hostile.
Not friendly at ALL as it's being told today.
That Mullah Omar gave up his country for the sake of that highly questionable Saudi is simply a myth.
I didn't have a chance to explain this on the post, because the site suddenly went out while I was trying to smooth out the post above.
Meanwhile some local Kabul atmosphere :
"This is the Grand Mosque of Wazir Akbar Khan in Afghanistan.
The khatib mentions the name of His Eminence, the Amir al-Mu'minin Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada in the sermon and offers prayers for his steadfastness and the continuity of the Islamic Emirate."
https://x.com/ahmad_uisf/status/2048292394957975667
Re: Afghanistan today
Refreshing scene
"High in the green mountains of Afghanistan, a young shepherd walks his flock in peace where nature breathes freedom and every step tells a story of simplicity and strength"
https://x.com/FawadAlokozai5/status/2048426841707577667
Re: Afghanistan today
Completely affirming of what most informed people suspected all along was the TRUE REASON for the 2001 US/Nato invasion of Afghanistan
It was NOTHING to do with imaginary culprits like Osama bin Laden, nor about combating "terrorism". Discerning Westerners realized this at the TIME, but the media barrage was SO intensive that few Americans were able to see through the nonsense.
How did some small group of fighters living in caves pull off such an event ?
Os. ama himself said when asked after the big event that he would never harm women and children : that that would have been against Islam.
LATER, he suddenly changed his mind and accepted responsibility for the 2001 conflagration. Hmmm
Anyway, the "Taliban" [the official name is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the IEA] is completely off the hook as far as blame goes.
The IEA did everything right as you will see here.
John Kiriakou is at his best interviewed by Tucker Carlson.
Both agree on key points which fly in the face of the official American party line :
https://x.com/abierkhatib/status/2049043643156066734
Re: Afghanistan today
"First flight from Tehran to Kabul after the US–Iran tensions marking a symbolic return of air travel and hope as connections reopen between people and nations"
https://x.com/FawadAlokozai5/status/2049488259261292748