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Agnostic Muslim · 03-17-2008, 08:40 AM

Afghan Engineer,

Welcome to the forum - its always interesting hearing from Pashtuns whose loyalties are based on ethnonationalism rather than country. As a member of a Pakistani forum, the majority of whose senior membership and a large part of its regular membership is comprised of pashtuns (who express diametrically opposed views to yours), pardon me for being skeptical of your opinion.

On the subject of being "more Afghan" than Pakistani however, it is interesting that you mention being "Afghan" over "Pashtun" because the two are not necessarily synonymous. The Pashtun only comprise about forty percent of the population of Afghanistan, and have to share the nation with the Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras etc. ethnic groups who of late haven't had the best of experiences with each other.

On the subject of the "fence" - the issue has only been raised because of US pressure to stop unautorised cross-border movement between the two nations, so perhaps you should take it up with NATO, who is also not averse to bombing "suspicious" groups of Pashtun and their dwellings - inside Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan has never had any issue with the Tribes crosing the border, it has only been a recent development due to the "Afghan President" accusing the "Pakistani Pashtun Tribes" of providing a safe haven to Taliban members who are carrying out attacks on NATO and Afghan troops. "Your Afghan President" (and NATO) is the one demanding that the Pakistani Army forcibly stop the Tribes from crossing. Remember that Pakistan never wanted to deploy its forces in FATA, but selective arguments serve to further the "foreignor responsible for all ills" narrative, so it is expected.

Your ranting about "elitist land grabs by the Punjabis" I will relegate to just that, "ranting" - until you can articulate your argument with a little more facts and sources. I am not sure where you are living, but I see no "Pashtun and Punjabis killing each other until they are all destroyed" - I mostly see Pashtuns killing other Pashtuns. But the narrative that a "foreignor" is responsible for all of ones ills is an interesting phenomenon - you see it in the Muslim world in general as well, where most Muslims continue to blame the West for their ills, and ignore the fact that it is "fellow Muslims" who are causing most of the problems and violence - an inability to address the root cause of the problem because it involves self critique, and an acceptance that ones society/culture has failed on certain issues.

As far as Bangladesh is concerned - good for them - Pakistan has enough problems right now to be concerned with having to deal with a disconnected Eastern Wing. I, and many Pakistanis I know, have no regrets about the separation, but do regret any excesses that may have been committed by the PA in Bangladesh, as I hope do those who were opposed to "West Pakistan" for the crimes they committed.

03-17-2008, 08:40 AM	#197 (permalink)
Agnostic Muslim Contributor Join Date: 12-12-07 Location: Auburn Hills Posts: 461 Country:	Afghan Engineer, Welcome to the forum - its always interesting hearing from Pashtuns whose loyalties are based on ethnonationalism rather than country. As a member of a Pakistani forum, the majority of whose senior membership and a large part of its regular membership is comprised of pashtuns (who express diametrically opposed views to yours), pardon me for being skeptical of your opinion. On the subject of being "more Afghan" than Pakistani however, it is interesting that you mention being "Afghan" over "Pashtun" because the two are not necessarily synonymous. The Pashtun only comprise about forty percent of the population of Afghanistan, and have to share the nation with the Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras etc. ethnic groups who of late haven't had the best of experiences with each other. On the subject of the "fence" - the issue has only been raised because of US pressure to stop unautorised cross-border movement between the two nations, so perhaps you should take it up with NATO, who is also not averse to bombing "suspicious" groups of Pashtun and their dwellings - inside Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan has never had any issue with the Tribes crosing the border, it has only been a recent development due to the "Afghan President" accusing the "Pakistani Pashtun Tribes" of providing a safe haven to Taliban members who are carrying out attacks on NATO and Afghan troops. "Your Afghan President" (and NATO) is the one demanding that the Pakistani Army forcibly stop the Tribes from crossing. Remember that Pakistan never wanted to deploy its forces in FATA, but selective arguments serve to further the "foreignor responsible for all ills" narrative, so it is expected. Your ranting about "elitist land grabs by the Punjabis" I will relegate to just that, "ranting" - until you can articulate your argument with a little more facts and sources. I am not sure where you are living, but I see no "Pashtun and Punjabis killing each other until they are all destroyed" - I mostly see Pashtuns killing other Pashtuns. But the narrative that a "foreignor" is responsible for all of ones ills is an interesting phenomenon - you see it in the Muslim world in general as well, where most Muslims continue to blame the West for their ills, and ignore the fact that it is "fellow Muslims" who are causing most of the problems and violence - an inability to address the root cause of the problem because it involves self critique, and an acceptance that ones society/culture has failed on certain issues. As far as Bangladesh is concerned - good for them - Pakistan has enough problems right now to be concerned with having to deal with a disconnected Eastern Wing. I, and many Pakistanis I know, have no regrets about the separation, but do regret any excesses that may have been committed by the PA in Bangladesh, as I hope do those who were opposed to "West Pakistan" for the crimes they committed. __________________ Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission - Jinnah Last edited by Agnostic Muslim : 03-17-2008 at 08:51 AM.