Tahira Khan
Few days back, a circular, attributed to Mandi Bahauddin Police station, was shared on different social media accounts which called for targeting a single ethnic group i.e., ‘Pashtuns as terrorists or as a suspicious community’ in the wake of recent fierce wave of terrorism. Earlier the credibility of the notice was challenged by various law enforcing agencies (LEAs) but later on further such attempts made the situation pretty clear- although, much more tensed as well. The very first notice is as under;
After that leaflet, another was seen in NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) office which also claimed for blatant ethnic targeting. After all such attempts, DAWN also confirmed the new wave of racial profiling and condemned it. What all this means? There is one possible inference which could be drawn from these events i.e., racism is reality and we are, now, in no position to defy any such phenomena with logical explanation.
Are Pashtuns terrorists?
Before dissecting the above mentioned question, let us first try to know what actually terrorism is.
Instead of unlimited debate and explanation, the nation and even intellectuals seem perplexed when it comes to some precise and comprehensive definition. As far as scholarly literature is concerned, in early 1980’s there were approximately 109 definitions for a single notorious term i.e., ‘Terrorism’. Probably the number has found quite a huge increase in the recent years.
Bruce Hoffman’s definition is considered to be the most acceptable one.
“The deliberate explanation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change. All terrorist acts involve violence or threat of violence. Terrorism is specifically designed to have far reaching psychological effects beyond the immediate victim or object of the terrorist attack. It is meant to install fear within, and thereby intimidate, a wider target audience that might include a rival ethnic or religious group, an entire country, a national government or political party, or public opinion in general.”
So, what Pashtuns get from a series of attacks being held across the state? What they were pressing for? What political, social or economic change they wanted to witness? Perhaps, nothing.
Before lying blame on others or targeting someone we first have to make some cost-benefit analysis otherwise the whole strategic calculation would become ineffective and unfruitful.
Pashtuns got nothing from the political arena in the wake of these terrorist attacks. They are even unable to ask for their own rights. Fata has been denied constitutional rights since the inception of Pakistan. Area is run under the draconian Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
“If Pashtuns are that much capable or powerful to hold 10-12 sequential blasts across the country then they would not be advocating their fundamental rights or merging Fata with KP. They would have liberated Fata and the whole of tribal belt much earlier. I don’t see any reason for holding back or waiting for the commands of Federal Cabinet and our dear politicians.”
It must be noted that every terrorist activity carries their respective rationale. If we are unable to find such reasons then it doesn’t mean we have to put the whole blame on single ethnic group in order to deflect the overall responsibility from our shoulders.
Cultural Explanation:
“The world is asking ‘who are you Pashtuns?” said Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of a moderate Pashtun party in Balochistan province.
“Around the world we are accused of being terrorists, but tolerance is in our blood- it is taught by our mothers. We don’t hate people just because their noses are long or they speak in foreign tongues. We demand all the world respect our values, culture and the dignity of our people.” He added.
Pashtun’s code of conduct is widely known as “Pukhtunwali” which comprises of four elements i.e., shame, honour, refuge and hospitality. Before the Soviet Invasion, the culture and respective code of conduct was characterized with rich norms and values preserved for over three thousand years yet so far.
Yes, there exists homogeneity between Pukhtunwali and Islam. The way the four pillars of Islam i.e, prayer, fasting, haj and zakat are offered shows Islam is embedded in the social structure and practices of the society.
Before the invasion of Soviet Union, the very same people were considered to be the brave and respectable ones. But, then Madrassa culture was introduced in the tribal regions for some specific strategic interests. The world got distorted image of two distinct positions of Pashtun society i.e., the position of the tribal head and mosque. Fabricated image showed that both are same but in realty both are separated from each other. Religious affairs are always kept distinguished from the political affairs. Just because they are regular in offers prayers, zakat etc. doesn’t mean they are extremists or terrorists.
And, then the Soviet Invasion occurred which replaced educational institutes with seminaries. Curriculum was revised and added elements of hatred and extremism in order to produce Jihadists and to brainwash the innocents. Thus, we can say that the very protectors of state corrupted the whole of Pashtun Generation.
This whole process of labeling Pashtun as terrorists were resisted by Afghan Pashtuns such as Mr. Karzai, Abdul Haq and former King Zahir Shah but their voices didn’t reach the other side of Durand Line. In Pakistan, the liberals who protested against this incarceration of hatred were labelled as traitors and anti-nationals.
“Pashtuns stand united for peace but the fire of war is burning our land and we have to find the means to extinguish it. We are caught in the middle of war mongers, extremists and militants,” Said Asfandyar Wali, the head of Awami National Party (ANP).
The notion of extremism is not associated with Pakhtunwali but the root cause lies in the establishment of Madrassa culture which exits in every corner of the state right now.
Terrorism has no ethnicity and no religion as well. If Pashtuns were the only terrorists then from where the notion of Punjabi Taliban came? Earlier Punjab’s Counter-terrorism Department (CTD) said that 17 of the 22 most deadly terrorists belong to the fertile soil of Punjab not the tribal belt of northern-areas. So, can we assume Punjabis are terrorists in the same way Pashtuns are? Certainly, not. Why?
Then, why this racial typecasting?
Ethnic profiling is not a new phenomenon for Pashtun community. It has been historically and structurally inculcated in our societal fabric and culture. It has been a part of our sub-conscious as well.
The whole of political system is familiar with such blatant attacks but never aroused against it because the structure has been designed in the very same way i.e., to victimize anyone whenever or wherever it is needed. The whole game is played around the notion of strategic interests.
But, fortunately, this time few sections of civil society took firm stand against this ethnic typecasting. I recorded my response on face book in the following words;
“The way some people reacted against ethnic profiling in the wake of terrorism, particularly Punjabis, shows that they have learned the secret of peaceful co-existence and mutual respect. This is how we as a nation will stand together and this is what our political elite is needed to be learned from; but although they seem incredibly low on this score.”
Racial typecasting is not only against fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan but is also creating another rift in the society which is already fragile because of sectarian and terrorist outfits. We, surely, don’t want to make it more beleaguered by having another menace of extremism i.e., racial terrorism.
The truth is, Pashtuns have been the integral part of our society since long but the very basic societal fabric is, somehow, structured in a way to nurture xenophobia and racism against them; as we are always provided with very limited context of faith, politics and nationalism. It has broken our backs but still it is justifiable because all has been done for some required interests. Let me clear one thing; terrorism is also built on and put forward for political and strategic goals- though religious sometimes. I hope one day we will be able to differentiate between us and them.
Writer is a Team member of Balochistan Voices and a student of Political Science in University of Punjab, Lahore and hails from Loralai.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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