Afghanistan: The War That Shames America

“I have had the privilege of getting to know more about my hosts here in Khost, Afghanistan. The Pashtun tribes are one of the oldest people-groups on earth, having lived in these mountains, the Hindu Kush, for about 6,000 years. I have undertaken (call me crazy) to learn to speak Pashto (also called Pashtu or Pakhto). Pashto is a pretty simple language, full of words for things like home, relatives, livestock, work, land, and seasons. On the other hand, almost all words for things mechanical and modern are borrowed, from English, Farsi, or Arabic. Car: motar. Cellphone: mobil. Driver: driwar.

The “Pashtun Belt” is the homeland of many Pashtuns, straddling the Afghan-Pakistan border, a mostly mountainous area, reaching from Badakhshan in the north to the border with Balochistan in the south, and westward to Herat. The arbitrary line separating Afghanistan from Pakistan was drawn up by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand in 1893 as an agreement separating Afghanistan (in which Russia had some interest) from British colonial India. Afghans generally, and Pashtuns particularly, do not recognize the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

One of the more fascinating parts of Pashtun culture is the code of tribal laws and customs, called Pashtunwali. I do not claim to be an expert in this, but this is some of what I’ve learned in my Pashto language and culture class. What follows is a summary of the laws that have governed these tribes for millenia. They have never been conquered. The Pashtuns have intermittently (and reservedly) acquiesced to a centralized government, but Pashtunwali is the law written in their hearts, as it were. Pashtunwali isn’t a written code; it is passed as oral tradition, from father to son.

Melmastia (Hospitality): Pashtuns are, like most middle-eastern people, welcoming and generous to a fault. Guests in a home will usually be offered snacks like nuts, chai (green tea), dates, raisins, or bread. I can hardly visit the bazaar to buy a scarf or a bracelet without sitting down to share a cup of chai and a bit of candy. It seems to carry more meaning than just niceties, though. Being the “guest” of a tribe or family obligates them to protect and share. This may progress to an extreme, even to the point of providing protection to one’s enemies or to a fugitive. Many have interpreted the “settling” of al Qaeda and other extremist elements in the Pashtun belt in light of melmastia, suggesting that some Pashtun tribes reluctantly but resignedly continue to host these groups.

Badal (Revenge): Injury or insults to another’s honor are avenged by the males of the tribe. There is no “statute of limitations” on this. Vengeance will be sought, whether in one day or one year or 1,000 years. Problems arise when the “settling of the score” is not perceived by both parties to be just. Other provisions of Pashtunwali then must take effect for a blood feud to end.

Nanawati (Forgiveness / Asylum): This is a fairly complex idea I still have trouble getting my head around. The word carries the idea of “entrance”, as in, entering another’s home for protection. It can mean asking for protection from one’s enemies. This usually involves some payment, such as the slaughter of a goat, cow, or sheep in front of the protector’s house. The petitioner humbles himself in this way before the protector, who then is obligated to go to extreme lengths to render assistance, protection, or hospitality to the petitioner. This could be used in cases of accidental wrongful death of a child or relative, or with long-standing feuds in which one party accepts the humility of asking for forgiveness.

Jirga (Assembly): The assembly of tribal elders (masharan) is the ultimate tribal judicial authority in matters of law. The lashkar (tribal militia) is the force which carries out the decisions of the jirga. Not surprisingly, the traditional jirga is an all-male affair. (The parliamentary system of modern Afghanistan uses the traditional language to describe their legislative houses, the Meshrano Jirga and the Wolesi Jirga being the upper and lower houses, respectively. They do, and must by law, include women.) A Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, was called to form the new constitutional government of Afghanistan.

Nagha (Tribal fine): The jirga may impose a fine on a guilty party, both as punishment for the offender, and as satisfaction for the victim.

Badragha (Tribal escort): If a tribe guarantees safe passage through an area, they are obligated by oath to uphold that committment and ensure that no harm befalls the travelers.

Lokhay Warkawal (see below): Another fairly nuanced topic that I don’t completely understand, this literally means “giving or lending of the pots.” Depending on who I talk to, it could signify providing a sort of housewarming for a newly married couple, a taking of a collection, or going to extreme lengths to protect someone from enemies. How does this all fit together? My theory is this: the down-and-out, the utterly destitute, the one who has nothing and can offer nothing, is most in need of defense and restoration. For that individual, we should go to extraordinary lengths.

Hasaya (Neighbor): A foreigner or group of foreigners may request asylum or alliance with their Pashtun hosts, and any aggression against the hasaya is interpreted as aggression against the host.

So there are most of the prominent concepts of Pashtunwali. The Pashtun culture has governed itself for thousands of years (even before Islam) based on ideas of hospitality and protection, revenge and forgiveness, and the wisdom of elders.”