Cambridge Center for Adult Education:
Lecture notes on Pashtunistan

Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek; burqa, chador, shari’ah – we hear these terms in the news reports, but what do they really mean? Come see a slide show from northern Pakistan (the Pashtun region and Kashmir) and the Muslim province of China (bordering Tajikistan and Afghanistan), and from surrounding areas of Central Asia. Jesse visited the region in 1994 and, after checking out an Afghan refugee camp, lived to tell the tale and return to neighboring countries in subsequent years. We’ll see how Pashtuns look and how Tajiks dress, and how their hats differentiate one from the other. We’ll discuss the culture and geography of Afghanistan and the politics of the surrounding areas. With a little history, from the Silk Road to the British Raj, perhaps we’ll come away understanding better who our “allies” are and what the future holds. Geography “Stan” means “land of”. Tajikistan, Uighurstan, Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, Baluchistan. “Afghania” is the pre-British name of Pakistani province, Brit. renamed “North West Frontier Prov.” Afghan language is Pashto; so Afghanistan is a nationality, while Pashtun is the ethnicity. Independence from Britain in 1919 (the “Great Game” of WWI). “Taliban” is a Pashtun word (“Students of God”). “Pak” means “pure” (Urdu)--just collective name. It’s also an acronym (Punjab-Afghania-Kashmir-Iran-Sindh-BaluchisTAN) Some people say “Pashtunistan”, “Baluchistan” (Pak & Iran) or any other ethnic-group-Stan. Poverty People like pix -- they give addresses Horses are transportation Garbage in the streets Religion Sunni vs. Shi’ite: (Protestant/Catholic) Taliban is Sunni, majority. Northern Alliance is Shia, minority. Iran, Azeri & Northern Alliance are Shi’ite (Tajikistan = large Shi’a minority). All others are Sunni. Graveyard - crescent moon on graves Town -- looks a lot like graveyard except for wires Town or graveyard? Representational art is disallowed -- Taliban blowing up Buddhas was a serious anti-Islamic act, not anti-art or anti-Buddhism Muslim Crescent -- Morocco to Indonesia Distinction between Muslims and Arabs Anti-Israel sentiment (Johore Bahru story = Malaysian Muslim welcomes all but Israelis) Acceptance of Jews (Nigeria story = bin-Ibrahim to Muslims; People of the Bible to Christians) Khanas classroom pic (Arabic writing) Kids' first view of Westerners -- screaming in the fields Women’s status Photo of Natasha & Lori surrounded by men (no women on streets) Fundamentalist vs. typical Islam Shari’ah = Islamic law Burqa chador shalwar kamiz (photo & story of tanktop girl in Urumqi) It's just about modesty -- not shari'ah or fundamentalism Women working -- illegal under Taliban Politics British Raj and Partition into India & Pakistan (and then Bangladesh) Kashmir conflict & India v. Pakistan; China’s interest in Tibet. Nukes in India, Pakistan, & China, and disputed borders between all 3. Oil in Xinjiang, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan; lots in Kazakh & of course Iran; Afgh. has a little. Silk Road (Bring map silk-road.com) Ancient trade route: Bactra (northern Afghan) next stop is Kashgar. Photo: Camel caravan – that ain’t Afghanistan. Trade caravans passed through & spread culture (and brought Islam), but they’re outsiders Marco Polo went through Herat, then Bactra to Kashgar (spaghetti pictures) Kashgar market (center of Silk Road) Tashkurgan (Chinglish pic) Karakoram Highway Pakistan & China made peace to fight India – hence KKH. Earthquakes galore (pix of terrain) (blowing up the rock story) Map of Kashmir – India claims all the way to Afghan border, and into China (all 3 have nukes) Himalayas (big topography map of South Asia) India is pushing into Asia – hence Himalayas. K2 is in Karakorams where Pakistan, China, & Afghanistan meet. (pic of Mustagh Ata, next to K2) Hindu Kush range is next west = “Killer of Hindus”. Then Pamirs. All parts of Himalayas. Glacier harvesting (pics) Hats Pashtun hats Tajik Turbans Kirghiz men (pic at Karakul) Yellow Hat Sect the state religion in Tibet (“red hats” & “black hats” are the older monk sect) Ethnic costumes Button lady (Tajik) Uighurs Tajik man pic (NOT a turban!) (henna beard pic) Terrain pic of Chitral pass “road” Glacial river roaring (pics) Trucks Ozmobiles (several pics) Contrast to China Housing & living Mingora downtown pix (dirt roads) Mud house pix Downtown Gilgit (guy in suit next to Ozmobile) Yurts (tourist yurt & real yurt) Habahe downtown Food Halal (pic of Pashtun flames) Making cheese (pics) Semi-legal opium
	Tajik woman in traditional dress
	Woman in a burqa
	Tajik man in traditional dress
	Pakitstani decorated truck, in the mountains above Peshawar
	Attracting a crowd of curious onlookers (Chitral, northern Pakistan)