Peace Situation in Pakhtoon’s Region
Causes and Remedies
Ihsanullah
Peace is a word which is used very often in daily life particularly during violent situation. Though the word is used commonly and look like an easy word but it is very difficult to define it in a sentence. Generally the word peace is used for friendship, harmony, pacification, and neutrality etc. But actually it isn’t enough to describe the nature of peace and peacemakers. Any attempt to articulate the nature of peace and peacemaking required that it must address those conditions which are favorable to their emergence. Freedom, human rights, and justice are among such prerequisites. It also includes some proactive strategies such as conflict resolution, nonviolent action, community building, and democratization of authority.
Peace is one of the integral parts of human life. If any human being lacks this factor it would be very difficult for him to keep his aliveness in this universe. Same is the case in the society that without its existence, it is very difficult to keep the society alive. The peacefulness in the society depends on human internal satisfaction or simply their internal peace which dependent on different external factors like education, economic support, safety to their lives, profession and rights etc. If a person is satisfied with these external factors he/she would mainly be satisfied internally which may be resultant into a peaceful society. If any society lacks these factors, it disturbs the human internal satisfaction which leads into violence that disturbs peace. As Dalai Lama state that; ‘we can never bring peace in the outer world until we make peace with our selves.’ In the same manner Buddha stated that; ‘Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.’
It simply means that if an individual is satisfied internally, then it is possible that society may also remain peaceful.
The human race faced the greatest ever challenge which is still existed, to live freely in this world without facing any threat of violence. Violence is not only existed during war but it also exists every where, in schools, home or society etc. swhere there is injustice, there is conflict as Albert Einstein stated that; ‘ Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order--in short, of government.’ Violent situation in the presence of all these injustice and evils etc in the society is too dangerous as compare to environment in which all these elements are absent.
Causes which led to violent situation in Pakhtoon’s Region
Every conflict has lots of root causes which play a leading role in creating that conflict. If these causes are not find out then it is very difficult to stop the conflict from spreading. The ongoing violent situation in pakhtoon region of Pakistan is one of the main conflicts. Though the conflict arose in recent past but it has some root causes since five or six centuries which also played important role in creating that violent situation which adversely affected the entire pakhtoon region. To get them out of this huge conflict it is important to find out the root causes that lead to the present violent situation. Though there are many causes but we have to discussed few of them which were the root causes. Those are as below:
•
Strategic Importance of the Region
Strategically pakhtoon region is of great importance. It lies in the way from central and west Asian to the South Asian sub-continent, through various passes, especially the world famous Khyber Pass which led Central Asia and Afghanistan to India. Its border touches to those of China, the USSR, the disputed territory of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the north, and Afghanistan to the West, all along from the Pamirs to rugged terrain of South Waziristan. To its South-east is the Punjab province, and to its south-west the Sindh province. Above all the world three famous passes Khyber, Gomal and Tochi are more important and renowned ones. Most of the invaders like Aryans, Hindus, Buddhists, Tartars, Mongols, Turks, Mughals, Iranian and Afghans entered into India to capture the empires of Delhi. Beside those, Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch and British) came India with the same wish to colonize India using sea routs. Though they used different routs but the aim was same to expand their empire to Central Asian states. The other purpose was to secure their borders from Russian invasion. For this they continued their invasion over pakhtoon region to enter Afghanistan but couldn’t succeed. They were restricted to pakhtoon region of India for a long time but succeeded due to their modern war equipment. They entered Afghanistan and remained there for long time but finally came out with a treaty with Afghanistan to protect their borders from Russian aggression. In 1893 a border treaty was signed between British and Afghan King Amir Abdur Rehman popularly known as Durand Line. Durand line marked boundary between Afghanistan and Indian Sub-continent.
This strategic position of pakhtoon region gives a clear edge over other areas not only before independence 1947 but after independence as well. But, continuous invasions affected the residence adversely. After independence pakhtoons expected some sort of relief from the new rulers but their strategy remained same as like British before independence that compelled pakhtoons for starting insurgency against the government. In this way the peaceful environment of the region is disturbed.
•
Deprived of their Rights
Historically speaking pakhtoons were kept deprived of their due rights. As said earlier that every invader attacked on Indian sub-continent from this side. In those invasions pakhtoon first gave tough resistance to most of the invaders but due to less equipment they were passed and captured most parts or some parts of India. That’s why during their rule in India, invaders tried to keep them quit by force and ignored them in giving their rights. While pakhtoon were busy with them as they didn’t want to accept the foreign dominancy according to their nature. Due to that, pakhtoons couldn’t emphasize on getting their due rights. During Moughal period, pakhtoons were ruled by irritated manner. Moughal King Babar attacked on India with the help of Persia and captured the kingdom of Delhi from Ibrahim Lodhi, last pakhtoon king of Sultanat-e-Delhi. After capturing the kingdom, pakhtoons remained under their dominance. That’s why pakhtoons continued their struggle against Mughals in their entire period. They couldn’t accept them as rulers and broke out continuous wars and gave tough resistance to the Moughals. Pakhtoons remained peaceful in the initial years of Aurangzeb Alamgir rule because he used Islamic sentiments as a tactic and also disunited pakhtoon tribes to keep them quite and peaceful. But when pakhtoon came to know the tactics of Aurangzeb, they united against him to get their rights. Khushkhal Khan Khattak was one of the most important figures who initially supported Mughals and worked for them but when the problem of preserving pakhtoon independence arose between pakhtoons and Aurangzeb, he joined Afridis against Moughals. About the religious policy of Moughals, Khuskhal Khan Khattak in his poetry state that;
“Majesty belong to Justice,
For Justice alone the power to command;
I will never submit to a tyrant.
The Mosque is the house of God;
I will never pray in it to any other master.
If the Prophet could raise his head
From under the earth where he is buried,
I would whether he would recognize
The followers who do not follow him.
I will prefer to pray in Moughal prison,
For the glories of the past and of our ancestor
Which, alas ! their sons have lost.”
The betraying of pakhtoon rights was continued in British period as well, when they overthrew the Sikh’s empire. British gave importance to the region due to its strategic importance and ignored them in their rights.
On 9th November, 1901 NWFP with its adjacent areas was separated from Punjab. British felt that the land and its people need special treatments. They didn’t like the new ideas of masses freedom, reforms and responsible government which were becoming popular in Punjab and other parts of India. Besides giving same rights to the province and it masses, special laws and regulation like Frontier Crime Regulation was introduced. According to this regulation people could be given any sort of punishment without bringing them into the courts and they didn’t have the right to defend themselves in any court. The court also had no power to challenge any decision under that regulation. They ignored the province in constitutional reforms as well. When Minot-Marley reforms of 1909 and Montague-Chelmsford reforms of 1919 were introduced in the rest of India, the Frontier was ignored deliberately. On this regular ignorance, pakhtoons demanded for their constitutional rights from British Government. After the end of World War-I, the demand of full fledge reforms for the region was increased. The government formed a committee in April 1922. It comprised three British, three Muslims and two Hindus headed by Foreign Secretary Denny Bray. The committee agreed on constitutional reforms and rights for the region but government ignored the committee reports. This was followed by another commission popularly known as Simon Commission. The commission also approved the constitutional reforms in the region. Government once again ignored the commission reports due to some reasons and pakhtoon region couldn’t get their rights whether constitutional, social or economic etc. This was continued until the creation of Pakistan.
After the creation of Pakistan it was believed that government would give their due rights to pakhtoons but all those promises went in vain. Central government promised for many times but couldn’t fulfill their promises. This inhumanity was continued till 1973 but after the inclusion of article 161 (1) & (2) in 1973 constitution it was believed that the problem of hydro-electric power and natural gases was solved. As stated in article 161 (1) & (2) of the constitution that:
“1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 78 the net proceeds of the Federal duty of excise on natural gas levied at well-head and collected by the Federal Government, and of the royalty collected by the Federal Government, shall not form part of the Federal Consolidated Fund and shall be paid to the Province in which the well-head of natural gas is situated.
(2) ‘The net profits earned by the Federal Government, or any undertaking established or administered by the Federal Government from the bulk generation of power at a hydro-electric station shall be paid to the Province in which the hydro-electric station is situated.”
After 1973 constitution’s implementation, it became clear that the federal government would give due shares to NWFP and other provinces but all went in vain. Though federal government agreed with NWFP on net profit few times but later on couldn’t fulfill their promise. .
Despite all that discrimination pakhtoon showed patience but the situation became worse when a revolution broke out in Afghanistan when King Sardar Daud was executed with his family in royal palace on 27th April 1978. Due to that revolution most of the pakhtoons in Afghanistan migrated to Pakistan and settled in pakhtoon region i.e. FATA and NWFP. Pakhtoon inside the Durand Line welcome their Pakhtoon brothers but they couldn’t bear too much migration and demanded for a help from the central government. At that time Pakistan government got donation from international community particularly USA, Gulf states on the name of those muhajirins and gave only a very small amount to NWFP province despite the fact that the whole burden of those muhajirins was taken by the province and its adjacent area i.e. FATA till day. This deprivation of pakhtoons from their rights compelled them to get their due right but wasn’t succeeded. These not only adversely affected their lives socially but their profession was also taken by those muhajirins of Afghanistan. Thus the poorness rates in pakhtoons were increased very rapidly. These conditions compelled them to adopt violent manner as in a famous Pashto proverb state that; ‘Che Tang Shi no Pa Jhang Shi’ (When you are tired then you might go for a fight). The same is the case with pakhtoon because they left no stone unturned to get independence from British but their entire struggle went in vain and they were kept distraught, that’s why Pakhtoons adopted aggressive measures which disturbed the peaceful environment of the region.
•
Interruption in the neighbor Afghanistan
Pakistan interruption or intervention in the neighbor Afghanistan government affairs is one of the mains cause of the present violent situation in pakhtoon’s region. The harshness between both neighbors was started in 1946 just before the creation of Pakistan when it became clear that British will leave the Indian sub-continent very soon and hand over the region to India and Pakistan, the two new states. In this context Afghan government send a delegation to British government of undivided India and claimed that as they are lifting India, the Durand Line treaty would be collapse automatically. They also demanded the restoration of Indian area conquered during Ahmad Shah Durrani Empire . British rejected the Afghan’s claim, after which Afghan government put forward another request that the Durand Line Agreement was signed in distress which was also rejected by the British. Before partition Afghan government raisedÙƒ the issue of greater Pukhtunistan to undermine the Durand line treaty but that also couldn't work. On other hand India also supported Afghanistan to promote the idea that very soon Pakistan would collapse. Afghanistan continued their struggle even after the creation of Pakistan. When Pakistan applied for United Nation membership in 1948, Afghanistan was among the first states that didn't accept Pakistan as a state in United Nation. After that day hostility was started between both the countries. Afghanistan was the strong partner of Russia while India also joined the camp. In fear of Afghanistan and Indian aggression, Pakistan joined US camp against Russia. Both Russia and USA were strong revivals to become a super power. The joining of Pakistan in US camp was a big boost for US because in the region India, Iran and Afghanistan joined the Russian camp. USA needed a partner badly in the region to challenge the supremacy of Russia. Pakistan joined US camp for the simple reason to protect their selves from Indian aggression but this decision proved to be wrong when Pakistan wasn’t supported by USA in 65 and 71 wars against India in spite of having arms treaties like CENTO and SEATO with USA. At that time the joining of Pakistan to US camp is quite right decision but with the passage of time it proved to be wrong decision especially after the 9/11 incident when they targeted Pakhtoon’s region for counter terrorism. Had Pakistan leaders not follow the US camp blindly and make important changes in treaties with USA or may abrogate all the treaties then it would not have been the situation as like in the present day. Our leaders didn't learn from the history and went ahead with the same partner that not only disgraced Pakistan status on international level but it becomes a front line state in war on terror.
To support its ally, Pakistan on its part started interruption in Afghanistan during Sardar Daud government. Afghan King pronounced a war against Islamic revivals in 1974-75, and established bases in Pakistan and provided support to Afghan Mujahideen against Daud government. For this purpose the training of the Afghan exile Islamic revival leaders was must. Pakistan Federal government assigned the task to the then Commander in Chief of Frontier Corp, Nasirullah Khan Babar at Peshawar. With the help of Pakistan Government and American CIA, civil war was broke out in Afghanistan, USA on his part supported Mujahideens while Russia on their part supported Afghan government. The war started and finally on 27th April 1978, in a bloodless coup Sardar Daud was executed with his family. The coup is famously known as ‘Sour Revolution’. After that many puppet government were constituted in Afghanistan with the help of Russia but couldn’t work because Pakistan on behest of US working to weaken Russia in Afghanistan. The United States, seeing the Sour coup as a victory for communism which wasn’t acceptable to USA and they also energized their works against the Soviet invasion through Mujahideens by one or other way.
Mujahideens in Afghanistan belonged to different factions but they all shared the sacred ideology of Islam to varying degree. Islamic ideology kept them united. Mujahideen worked together under the training of ISI, which was supported and guided by the American CIA. Mostly the Mujahideens belonged from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan had been the major player of the game. Through Pakistani support, America entered Afghanistan, defeated Russia there through indirect means (Mujahideens) and stabilized her selves. Due to worse situation in Afghanistan large number of people, estimated 3 millions in two years (1978 to 1980) migrated to Pakhtoon’s area of Pakistani border NWFP and FATA.
Pakistani government would spend about $ 1.5 millions expenditure per day on these Afghan refugees. About 55 percent aid was received by Pakistan from UN agencies like UNHCR, WFP which was joined by some other international NGO’s. Many countries like USA, China, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, UAE, Indonesia, France, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Germany etc. also send their donation to Pakistan for Afghan refugees. Despite this aid, Pakistan also received a large amount of donation from Islamic Solidarity Fund and Islamic development Bank. According to an estimate all these countries contributed more than $ 750 million to Pakistan. Major amounts of those foreign donations were consumed by Pakistani establishment despite the fact that the whole responsibility of MUhajireens was taken by NWFP and its adjacent areas.
With the passage of time Taliban were getting stronger and creating resistance for USA in its future plane in Afghanistan. To Shatter the Taliban movement, USA staged a drama on 9/11 to create causes for attack on Afghanistan. On 7th October President Bush declared the attacks lawful and said that Taliban government had close contacts with terrorists and gave protection to them. Most of the European countries supported USA against Taliban. In Asia Pakistan, the most critical partner of America after its creation was also supported this cause. According to a report US administration warned General Perveez Musharaf, President of Pakistan to declare Taliban friends or foe. He opted for the second option for the reason that in response USA will support Pakistan economically. Musharraf first reshuffle the Pakistan army commanders and marginalized the commanders who had sympathy with Talibans and closed the Taliban’s government embassy in Islamabad. Till the start of January 2002 USA controlled most of the Afghanistan’s area after which they capture capital Kabul on 13th November, 2001. But there was still some sign of Taliban groups who opposed the American back government in Afghanistan. America captured Afghanistan and established an American backed government in Afghanistan but there is still some hurdle in the form Taliban who has created problems for Karzai Government. During attacks on Afghanistan large number of Mujahideens or Talibans fled to the Pakhtoons areas of Pakistan near Durand Line. They started all those violent activities in Pakhtoons areas in order to earn enough money as they got during Afghan Jihad. They established their bases in Tribal areas of Pakistan which directly disturbed the peace situation in the region. The Mujahideens who were the product of US policies during Afghan civil war were declared terrorists and militants for the reason that they were now growing a permanent threat to America and other European countries which further made the situation worse in Pakistan because these mujahideen have an aim to protect Islam from infidels. On this USA instigated Pakistan to declare a war against them. To take revenge from Pakistan these militants started the violent activities in Pakistan as they did in Afghanistan on the instigation of Pakistan and USA.
The former NWFP provincial government and elected members of National Assembly from FATA did nothing to stop Musharraf from such activities. They usually supported Musharraf and their allies which made the situation further worse that affected the pakhtoon region too much. The previous provincial government pro-Musharraf policies disgusted the situation in Province and Tribal areas in particular. To prove him as a close ally of America, Musharraf government made attack on Tribal areas in search of Al-Qaida, Taliban and Osama bin Ladin. Pakistani government this action destroyed the peace in the tribal areas and adjacent NWFP province. Thousands of innocent masses were killed. This barbarianism was continuing even after the fall of Musharraf and the new coalition governments of ANP-PPP in NWFP are now just silent spectators. They did not raise any voice against the military action in FATA and the other adjacent areas which destroyed the peace situation further.
•
Weak Judicial System
Judiciary is one of the most important branches of the three integral part of Governmental i.e. Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. These three branches of the government are inter-dependants on each other directly or indirectly. If judiciary is weak or couldn’t perform its duties based on justice it would not only affect adversely the governmental affairs but also it will disturb the common judicial system. If masses couldn’t get justice it compels them to get their rights by other means or simply through violent means. This may affect the peace situation in the country or region.
If we closely observe the judicial system of Pakistan we will find that it is too weak in giving basic rights to every province specially NWFP. Every time new government is formed and promises are made but not strictly followed. Due to the weak judicial system pakhtoon nation couldn’t get their constitutional and financial rights guaranteed by the constitution which caused a kind of complex amongst the pakhtoons. Historically, the grievances of small provinces are not yet satisfied and no pragmatic steps have been taking by our superior judiciary to ensure the constitutional rights of the small provinces and as a result poverty and unemployment in being increased in theses provinces day by day. This unjust compels the masses to turn to violent activities in getting their due rights. By and large pakhtoons nations have contributed a lot in the prosperity of this country but unfortunately their basic right has never been guaranteed to them.
•
Lack of Education
One of the main causes for the violence in pakhtoon’s region is the backwardness of pakhtoons in the field of education. Education is an important tool which symbolizes all the forces that have raised man from the level of a brute. It clarifies that education is an important tool for all human beings and through that tool human beings have an edge over animals. Through education man is also informed from outside the world and acquainted from the history and received all important information about the present. This is why Islam attaches such great importance to knowledge and education. When the Qur'an began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is, read. Education is thus the starting point of every human activity.
As said earlier that pakhtoons were kept busy or busy by themselves against the invaders throughout the history which stayed them away from education. Not only the invaders but pakhtoons themselves were mostly responsible for that because they themselves couldn’t give any importance to education. They usually think that there is no other education than the traditional mullah’s Islamic education. If some one tries to get other worldly education they considered it as a sin. If some ones tried to wake them up, they suppressed them by one or other way on the instigation of those illiterate mullahs. This destroyed them badly. In this critical moment, the first school in the pakhtoon region was established by British Commissioner of Peshawar, Sir Herbert Edward in 1853 Edward Mission High School at Peshawar. The school was established by British just after they came into power in 1847. The school was the first among all the missionary schools in Indian-Sub-continent. The school was established in such a critical time when pakhtoons considered learning in a school particularly in missionary school as a big sin. The school was the pioneer in the region which is now known as FATA, NWFP and some adjacent areas of the Punjab. Peoples from all over India, Afghanistan and some other countries came to the school for learning but pakhtoons didn’t take any interests in it and most of the population remained illiterate. Even now days the literacy rate in Pakistan is 50 percent which is lower than other courtiers in the region because of lower allocation budget (3-4 %) to the education. In the region Pakistan is only having higher literacy rate than Bangladesh (49%) and Nepal (43%). Other countries have far better ratios: the Maldives, 96 percent; Sri Lanka, 91 percent; and India, 61 percent. In Pakistan, pakhtoons and Baluchs have very low literacy rates than Sindh and Punjab. Sindh has the highest percentage in education which stands at 54 percent followed by Punjab (52 percent) and the NWFP (40 percent). Balochistan has the lowest ratio 33 percent. UNESCO, United Nation sub organization attributed the low level of literacy rate to factors like weak organizational infrastructure, low professional capacity, lack of research, non-availability of proper training institutes, low public awareness and lack of evaluation and monitoring system. Beside NWFP, the adjacent FATA area is too backward in literacy as well. The literacy rate in FATA is about 20 % in which 17 % are men while 3 % are women which are too low. The reason is that they followed the traditional mullahs and their education which couldn’t bear the modern education. Those Mullahs were against the modern education that’s why they opposed the modern education and deliberately gave a restricted meaning of Islam and confined its teaching only to religious affairs. They opposed the Baacha Khan’s School systems in 30s by declaring him an infidel and all those who wanted to educate their children in those schools. They insisted that all this worldly knowledge was Kufr (against Islam). To save their own profession and prestige in the society those illiterate mullahs reminded their pupils and their illiterate folk of verse;
‘Sabaq de madrasay wai da para da paise wai,
Jannat ke bai zai na vi dozakh ke ba ghute wai’
Translation:
Those who learn in schools, they are none but money’s tools, In Heaven they will never dwell; they will surely go to hell.
Besides Baacha Khan’s schools in NWFP, in the same era another example can be found in South Waziristan where a school was established in 1927 at Karama which was strongly opposed by the then mullahs of the locality by giving Fatwa that all those and their parents who went to those schools were Kafirs (infidels). The thinking wasn’t changed yet in the region even of the educated people that worldly knowledge or education is nothing and all is religious knowledge. But they forgot that if religious knowledge is all and worldly education is nothing then why our Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) emphasized on it? This can be find out from the fact that when Makkah was conquered, Holy Prophet (P. B.U.H) ordered for the release of prisoners of war (Kufaar-e-Makkah) with a condition that every prisoner (Kafir) would teach to ten Muslim children. Now the question arise that why the Holy Prophet put such condition and what did he mean from such education expecting from a Kafir? That education was defiantly mean worldly education because he himself was the preacher of religious knowledge.
Due to all these factors literacy rates in pakhtoon region remained too low. That’s why pakhtoons remained ignorant and they couldn’t judge the situation very well. They were used by their own governments as well as by international community for their secret motives which we are seeing in the shape of terrorism and which proved to be the main cause of disturbing the peaceful environment of the region.
•
Misuse of Religion
Generally pakhtoons are considered to be strict and tradition loving Muslims. Many of their customs and traditions are according to Islam but very few are against the teaching of Islam. About the natural affiliation of pakhtoon with religion, an eminent pakhtoon scholar Maulana Abdul Qadir states that;
“In Pashto code of life the whole Islamic morality is absorbed. The pakhtoon code of life is according to Islam. It is an achievement of this code of life that once they accept some thing they would strictly follows those rules and regulations which shows a sole representation of a strict follower of Islam.”
He further declares that;
“Pakhtoons are strict Muslims and till their death they couldn’t be left the follower of another religion. A pakhtoon is honest, strict in keeping promises, having alive ego etc. like a strict Muslim. They also give great respects to elders and peoples who have close affiliation with religion like syyeds, Alims, Mians and etc.”
Beside him some eminent scholars like Jamal-ud-Din Afghani, a well known poet Allma Iqbal and an eminent Muslim General Tariq bin Ziyyad gave the same idea about the pakhtoon that without them it is difficult to protect Islam.
Their natural affiliation with Islam is also finding out from their social and economical behaviours. Pakhtoon gives respectable status to females as a sister and mother as given by Islam. Usually their marriage and death ceremonies and other social gathering are according to the teaching of Islam.
Though they are strict Muslims but due to lack of religious knowledge they couldn’t judge the right and wrong in religious context. They usually judge most of the problems in their own customs and traditions which might be some time against the teaching of Islam. But due to lack of religious knowledge, they usually mix their traditions and customs with Islam and think that these are the integral part of Islam which is a wrong concept. One of the main reasons discussed earlier that traditional mullahs kept them away from the real spirit of Islam and gave a specific religious knowledge or the knowledge which is out of context.
Due to lack of religious awareness, pakhtoons were trapped and was used against each other on the sacred name of Islam. That’s why the enemies of Islam and pakhtoons showed the fake pictures to the world that both Islam and pakhtoons are violent in nature which is not the real case. Islam is the peaceful religion of the whole universe and pakhtoons are the peaceful nation.
•
Couldn’t Receptive to Criticism
To point out faults in one works or idea is called criticism. To criticize one’s self or other is a good habit but not too much because it increases negativity in the personality which adversely affects the personality of some one. As like its negative ness it has lot of positive points as well. If some one criticizes your ideas or your works it means that there might be some fault. Review your ideas or works and find out the faults and try to abolish the mistakes. But if criticism is overlooked it means that you couldn’t bear criticism which is not good. A healthy criticism is very constructive because it can improve some areas. But as said earlier that most of the people couldn’t receptive to healthy criticism. They feel that all criticism is negative. This can destroy the healthy criticism.
If we closely observed the pakhtoons or their society, we will find out that usually they criticize each other too much. Most of the criticism is negative because of their jealousy with his other pakhtoon brother. Most of the pakhtoons couldn’t bear the progress in society of other pakhtoon whether he has been his close relative or friend. That’s why they usually criticize negatively to disgrace the opponent. If other pakhtoon criticize him constructively, it could be very difficult for him to bear the criticism. He thinks that the opponent only criticizes him negatively which might change the environment into violent one. This lack of quality to bear the criticism of other is very common among pakhtoon. A society where there is no constructive criticism or receptive to constructive criticism surely remains behind from other progressive societies.
•
Lack of Unity
The state of one, oneness, harmony, uniformity is called unity. One of the main causes of violence in pakhtoon region is the lack of unity among them. Usually pakhtoons are disunited on each and every problem. At their zenith of unity they were the master and ruled over other. When they disunited and started fighting against each other, they lost each and every thing and now ruled by others. Disunity is one of the old diseases of pakhtoons from which they are suffering through out the history. This weakness was utilized by Mughals and overthrew pakhtoons from the throne of Delhi. British also used this weakness of pakhtoons and ruled over them. After independence through this weakness central government took advantage and was ruled over them by inhuman manner. Today, pakhtoon is harming his own brother. This spread violence in the region which disgraced pakhtoon’s image in the world.
•
Lack of Taking Individual Responsibility
Lack of taking personal responsibility is one of the most important causes for creating violence in the society. When an individual of a community is not prepared or interested to take its own responsibility in the society create a rift in the society that disturbs the whole society. Initially that disturbance is created among close colleagues that further shift to home and then the area and finally in the society. The people of the affected community or society are depressed by looking the nearby community progress. The community became needy of the developed communities and is ruled by those communities.
Same is the case with pakhtoon because most of them were lacking the quality of taking their individual responsibilities. Though they themselves do not take any interest in taking individual responsibility and then blaming others for their misconducts. Pakhtoons couldn’t understand it as a big mistake that is continuously damaging pakhtoon’s society. Usually pakhtoons don’t take any interest in solving a minor problem but they start taking interest when the problem reaches to its peak. In this way a minor problem leads to a big problem. Violence in the region is the best example that initially pakhtoon couldn’t take it a serious problem. Had pakhtoon taken it a serious problem and accepted it as its own responsibility to solve it in initial stage then it would not have been the case now days they are facing.
•
Lack of Good Leadership:
Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, such as beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills. Usually leaders born naturally and couldn’t made to be born but if a person have a will power and desire he can become an affective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study; education, training, and experience. Good leaders are continuously working and studying to improve their leadership skills; they are not resting on their laurels. There are some qualities a leader can learn. For example to inspire his workers, besides there are certain things a leader must know.
Leadership is an important factor which can play important role in the development of an organization, a society, a nation or a country. If an organization, society or nation lack a good leader it will be very difficult to contain their selves in the society. Some times an organization or a nation couldn’t develop beside a good leadership but the organization or nation is still remembered in respectable words. Some times an organization or nation have a good hidden leader but couldn’t have the quality to choose that leader and sometimes select the wrong one which not only destroyed the nation but labeled the organization or nation in bed bad manner.
Same is the case with pakhtoons because they have very few good leaders in the history which led them very courageously. It is very difficult for a person to become a leader of pakhtoons because usually pakhtoons never ever accepted the dominancy of any other person. Every one himself a leader that’s why there is very rare number of leaders in pakhtoons which became popular on national or international level. As said earlier that pakhtoons haven’t the sense to elect their leader. Most of their renowned leaders like Baacha Khan, Faqir of Ippi, Haji Sahib of Turngzai etc. became popular due to their own sacrifices and abilities. But their characters are still controversial among common masses that make them ambiguous. All those leaders worked for the betterment of pakhtoons that’s why they become popular among pakhtoons.
After the death of these leaders few were arose from their families but they couldn’t get fame like their forefathers. Only strong leadership can lead his people, his society and his nation on a right path. Due to lack of sincere leadership, pakhtoon’s enemy got advantage and involved them in their own war in the name of terrorism which disturbed the peaceful environment of the region into a violent one.
Suggestions to Bring Peace in Pakhtoon's Region:
Every problem has lot of causes on its back. In the same manner these causes also have some suggestions to overcome and solve them. Some time the causes behind the problem are very clear and easy to find. Some time it looks like easy to give ordinary suggestions and solve the problem but usually the situation is not the same in all cases. In such a situation the problem needs deep intentions and observations to suggest some tips to overcome the root causes and solve the problem. Some time the problem is prolonged due to lack of interest of affected individuals to solve the problem in its initial stages.
Pakhtoons have been facing the violence problem for the last two decade but sadly to say that they couldn’t give any importance to solve it which not only destroyed them but disgraced their status as well. Though common pakhtoon take interest and tried their best to solve the problem but couldn’t succeed due to improper guidance. They need proper guidance and their guides are their leaders. But their leaders from very first day do not take any interest to solve the problem. Some important suggestions are given below to overcome on those causes which rooted for spreading violence in the region.
•
To increase Literacy Rate:
Education is one of the important tools to solve the different problems. Education is a process through which a person can differentiate between good and bad. Education also creates the ability in an individual to find out the causes behind the problem and how to overcome on these causes which may led to a problem.
It is important for pakhtoon to improve their literacy rate by any mean according to their culture, customs and traditions. For this purpose they should first abolish all the inhuman behaviour towards a specific part of the community in education. Usually pakhtoons were reluctant to give education to their daughters, sisters etc. The main cause for this ignorance is their customs and traditions. This may unbalance the pakhtoon society and affect them adversely. Females have an important role to play in the society as mother and if a mother is not educated then how he will bring up his children in a good manner? Only educated mother can make an educated society. In education pakhtoon should change their mind and give education to both their children irrespective of their sex difference. Beside this pakhtoons should change their attitude to the female segment of the society. Female should be treated according to the actual teaching of Islam and pakhtoon customs and traditions.
Beside individual efforts provincial government should play their role by giving free of coast education facilities to the poor children particularly to the females. This may enhance the eagerness to get education in pakhtoons. With literacy improvement provincial government should also include in their curriculum topics like peace according to Islam and pakhtoon customs and traditions and cut off all the lessons which have a little violence message. Beside this provincial government could also make research work that how they can improve the literacy rate in pakhtoons?
The literacy rate improvement take time but government and masses should fallow the policy courageously and shouldn’t change the policy. If a government tenure is completed the next government should also follow the same policy. It simply means that government should brought continuity in its policy. This would help the upcoming generation to differentiate easily between peace and violence. They would try to abolish all the customs and traditions from pakhtoon society which might have a small link with violence and against the teaching of Islam.
•
Enhance Religious Knowledge:
Being a Muslim it is compulsory on every Muslim to get the religious education, without which it would be very difficult for him/her to defend their religion in front of non-Muslims. Using this weakness of Muslims, it could be possible that they might be used against each other on the sacred name of Islam which is being used frequently now days.
Usually most of the pakhtoons are Muslims but sad to say that they haven’t enough religious knowledge. That’s why they are misused on the sacred name of Islam against each other that disturb the peaceful environment of the region. It is important for them to get the religious knowledge. They couldn’t rely on traditional mullahs because most of them were also misused. It is most important that pakhtoon at first should learn the actual teaching and spirit of Islam which is used or being used in the past or present very oftenly like Jihad, Suicide Bomber, religious militancy etc. After understanding these concepts in religious sense they should teach it to other in one or other way according to the situation which will help them to stop people by misusing religion on their behalf.
•
Being Positive and Accept Responsibility
To bring peace in the region it is important for every pakhtoon to take responsibility on individual bases, because every responsibility whether that is domestic, social or any other should be connected with peace directly or indirectly. For example if a person couldn’t accept domestic responsibility it may be possible that it would disturb the peace environment at home which may led to a social or national level problem. It might be possible that such an individual would be easily used by the enemies of Islam and pakhtoons. On other hand if a pakhtoon accepts domestic responsibility and fulfill it in a good manner, then there would be a peaceful environment which may bring peace in the region.
The other important factor which also plays an important role in bringing peace in pakhtoon’s region is the ‘positiveness’ in the attitude of pakhtoon. Usually every pakhtoon is being negative in his attitude. They should change their attitude avoid negatives and bring positivness in their attitude to every problem. Negativeness in attitude is one of the main factors which led to violent environment.
•
Choose Eminent Leaders
A good leader can play a vital role in bringing peace at home, in a community, in a society or in a country. This is the leader who leads his nation to progressive and prosperity. If we study the history of pakhtoon’s society we will find a very few eminent leaders among pakhtoons which got fame on national and international level like Sher Shah Suri, Ahmad Shah Abdali, Baacha Khan, Khushkhal Khan and etc. Among those Baacha Khan was the last one after whom pakhtoons couldn’t find a good leader. Though his family produced people like Wali Khan and his son Asfandyar Khan but couldn’t get the fame and did not succeed in reuniting pakhtoons on one platform like Bacha Khan. In simple words it can be said that pakhtoons are lacking a good leadership to play his part in order to reunite pakhtoons and bring peace in the region. A good leader should lead from the front and he should be backed by all the masses.
•
Be United
To solve a problem of a community or society or region it is important that the masses of the community, region etc. should be united. If they remain disunited then it would be very difficult to solve the problem. Now a days pakhtoon region facing a lot of problems in which violent situation in the region is the most important one. To solve this problem it is important for them to be united against all the factors which are busy in disturbing the peace of the region. So it is important for pakhtoons that they should forget the internal enmity and get united against violence and war on terror to bring peace in the region. On unity Baacha Khan stated that ‘differences make the stronger groups or communities weaker because their whole strength was consumed by destroying his own revival.’
•
Strict Emigration Rules
To stop violence in pakhtoon region it is important for Pakistan government to strict the emigration rules with their neighbor countries particularly with Afghanistan. Because there is no rules and regulation of visa process with Afghanistan which resultant into the entrance of the foreigners. Most of those foreigners might want to spread violence in pakhtoon region and get their own aims. Suicides bombing are one of its bad examples in which mainly foreign nationals like Uzbiks and Tajiks are involved. For this purpose it is important that Pakistan government should strict the emigration rules with Afghanistan. If Central government isn’t interested then the pakhtoons themselves take the responsibility and should not allow the foreigners from any side to spread violence in their region.
•
Avoid the un-Islamic Custom and Traditions
As discussed above that lack of religious education is one of the main causes of creating the violence in pakhtoon region. It is too sad to say that most of the pakhtoons are Muslims but they are still following the un-Islamic traditions and customs despite the fact that they are un-Islamic. They give them the name of Pukhtoonwali. Most of those custom and traditions like Swara, enemiacity etc that spread violence in the society. These custom and tradition spread violence in pakhtoons which not only disgrace the sacred name of Islam but also damage the status of pakhtoons and Pukhtoonwali as well.
If pakhtoon wants to get rid of violence and bring peace in the region it is important for them to follow the actual Islamic traditions and get rid of un-Islamic customs and traditions. For this purpose they themselves should enhance their religious knowledge by studying books related to Islam and avoided traditional books. This will not only help them in bringing peace in the region but this would save their Islamic dignity as well.
•
Stop Foreign Aggression
To bring peace in Pakhtoon region it is important for Pakistan government to stop American aggression in that region. For its selfish aims, USA is trying to destroy the region. If Pakistani government couldn’t stop American from such aggression then it would be very difficult to bring peace in pakhtoon region but very soon that might be spread all over the Pakistan. If American with the help of Pakistan government kills the pakhtoon’s respected elders and other innocent masses it would be very difficult for them to stop pakhtoons from doing violent activities. So it is important for Pakistani government to challenge the American aggression in those areas and stop them.
•
Provincial Autonomy
If the federal government want to bring peace in Pakistan especially in Pakhtoon region it is important that they should give provincial autonomy to the provinces. This will make the central government stronger because no province can then raise a question on the loyalty of central government.
•
Pakhtoons Remain Non-Violent
Pakhtoons are naturally aggressive in nature which might spread violence in the society. Due to that aggressiveness, most of the invaders try to suppress them because it may be possible that in the future they create problems for them and it is continuing even day. To defend themselves they remain busy against foreigners which destroyed them almost in all fields of life. If pakhtoons wants to bring peace in the region they should avoid aggressiveness in their nature and remain non-violent. If they couldn’t control their aggressiveness then it would be very difficult for them to keep them selves alive in this universe. That’s why Baacha Khan state that ‘violence spread hates while non-violence spread love.’ Non-violence is not only the message of Baacha Khan but it is the message of Islam. If they are strict Muslims they should follow their religion and its message as well. Through non-violence they can bring peace with in their selves but in the region as well.
•
Reforms in FATA
Introducing of reforms in FATA can also help in bringing peace in pakhtoon region. In this context Central government should withdraw themselves from ruling directly from FATA and give it a separate status of Province. This would help the central government by solving many violent problems in the region. FATA is faraway from the central government to control the situation through their representative i.e. Governor of NWFP. So it is important that they must have its own elected assembly which can solve their problems according to their customs and traditions. In this way they themselves can stop foreign aggression and involvement in disturbing the peace situation in the region.
Secondly government should introduce Political Parties Act in FATA that would extend the political activities in the region. Masses would elect their own party members which will increases their eagerness towards politics. This would help them by giving rid of feudal system in the region because in elections usually Maliks takes part.
Thirdly government should make some important changes in Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR), a century old and discriminatory constitutional reform according to the present day situations. For example government should change the clause of FCR in which it is stated that a person should be imprisoned without any charge. Government should also make essential changes in the clause in which it was stated that the alleged person under FCR couldn’t be challenged any where in Pakistan which is totally against the spirit of fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. Women, children and old persons should be exempted from FCR etc.
In this way the government should established their writs in the areas. Through these and some other reforms government can control the violence situation in the region and bring peace in the region.
•
Strong Judiciary
Strong judiciary is directly linked with the peaceful environment. If judiciary is strong the law and order situation would be good and environment would be peaceful. But, where people does not get justice at their doors then the people of that society incline towards aggression and violent activities in order to get revenge or their rights by hook or crook.
To bring peace in the region it is important that government should make judiciary strong. Judiciary should be free from all the interference of the government. Every one should follow the rules and regulations with out any distinction of its profession or high qualification etc. In this way every one would get their rights and they would be satisfied which bring peace in the region.
To make judiciary strong government should encourage Jirgas system on town and village bases. These Jirgas systems would solve the issues according to the situation and customs and traditions of the particular area. This may also helps the people to get rid of weak judicial system.
•
Role of Non-Governmental Organizations
The role of Non-Governmental organizations couldn’t be ignored in bringing peace in a conflicted area. Usually most of the organization worked for different purpose but their aim is the same that to bring peace in the region. Usually most of the NGOs work in a conflicted area. Few of them works in health and literacy sectors.
It is important for Government (Federal and Provincial) to allow national or international NGOs to work in pakhtoon region to bring peace on their own ways.
•
Role of Provincial Government
In any activity the role of government couldn’t be ignored. Without the full support of a government a common man couldn’t fulfill their aims. To bring peace in pakhtoon region it is important that provincial government should play their role. They should encourage all the peaceful activities on individual or community bases in the region and give government support to all those activities. Discouraged the violent activities but not in violent manner and use the non-violence as a weapon. Provincial government should established committees on district bases or at low level of masses which is directly or indirectly affected by violent environment but there names should be kept in top secrets for their safety. These committees should not only observe the situation in their own districts but also should find out the root causes of the violent situation and then give their suggestion that how to overcome on those causes? Provincial government should backed them in proper implementation of all those plane designed by those committees.
Provincial government should also make important change in their syllabus by adding lessons having peaceful message and abolish the violent one. Beside this provincial government should established ‘Pease Studies’ or ‘Defence and Startegic Studies’ department in different universities of the province. These are important for the region because the graduate of those departments can solve the problem of violence peacefully in scientific ways.
•
Role of Media
The role of media cannot be ignored to highlight the activity in positive or negative way depends upon. If media play a positive role, a negative activity may be made positive or positive activity be made negative. If we closely observed the role of media now a day’s about violent situation in Paksitan particularly in pakhtoon region we find that it is exaggerating the issues. They highlight a minor activity in negative manner for the simple reason to get fame. In this context many news channels released many video which mostly based on violent activities which hurt the masses too much and every one is thinking for revenge.
If both print and electronic media change their attitude and present most of the activities whether violent or peaceful in positive manner it would be possible that it will affect the masses and they would start struggle for bringing peace in the region. Government should ban all the videos based on violence and should guide the media to present pakhtoons as strict Muslims and peaceful nation. This might change the mind of other regarding pakhtoons.
Conclusion
There is a famous pashto proverb that ‘destruction takes no times but construction takes years’. As the proverb states that violence is destruction and peace is construction. Bringing peace in the region is not a mare process to complete it with in days or with in months but it will take years. For this purpose every pakhtoon on an individual basis should take the responsibility of brining peace in the region. Every one should take the first step by changing his violent behavior. This would help them to establish a peaceful community in a specific area which might affect the adjacent areas and finally led to a peaceful region. For bringing peace in the region or adjacent areas it is important for every individual should take first step from himself. As mother Theresa said,
‘What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.’ It means that if pakhtoons wants to bring peace in their region it is important that they should take first step from their selves. To bring peace in the region pakhtoons should work hard at every place. As Baacha Khan said that: ‘If You (Pukhtoons) are really interested to make your country and nation fertile or peaceful, every one of you will have to work out of skills’. At another place he emphasize on the individual performance as he stated that:’ it is a fact that alone government couldn’t make law and order situation well and make the environment peaceful in the country until masses take their responsibilities and change their selves.’ If pakhtoons fails to bringing peace in the region then they would be slave for ever which might be a shameful deed for them. As pakhtoons have never remained slaves through out the history that’s why Khushkhal Khan Khattak in his poetry state that:
“Za Khuskhal ba Tora pa las kafan pa ghaara rapasam’
Ka khabar shom che pakhtoon da cha ghulam sho”
Translation:
“I Khuskhal will get up along with my sword from grave if I come to know that pakhtoons became the slaves of anybody else”
Bibliography
•
Bashir, Nadia. Government and Politics in NWFP (1848-97). M.A Thesis Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, 1997-1999.
•
Concept of Leadership. www.skagitwatershed.org.
•
Conflict Background of the Key Event since 1978 in Afghanistan. www.peacebuild.org.
•
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. www.google.com.
•
Foster, Ellsworth D., and James Hauglin Hughes, eds. New Educator Encyclopedia, Dominion Research Foundation, Calcutta, 1937.
•
Geneva Accords (1988). www.wikipedia.com.
•
Khan, Dr. Adalat. Challenge Faced by Pakhtoons. www.pakhtunkhwapeace.com.
•
Khan, Abdul Ghaffar. Zama Jond au Jadujahad (Pashto). Peshawar: Danish Kutabkhana, 2008.
•
Khan, Abdul Qayyum. Gold and Guns. Bombay: Hind Kitab, 1945.
•
Khan, Maulana Wahid-ud-Din. The Importance of Education. www.alrisala.org.
•
Marwat, Dr. Fazal-ur-Rahim. From Muhajir to Mujahid. Peshawar: Pakistan Study Center. University of Peshawar.
•
Muhsud, Mansur Khan. Impact of Education on Social Change in South Waziristan Agency. M.A Thesis submitted to Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar.
•
Nasim, Bushra. Pashtoono par Islami Folkari ka Asar (Urdu). Peshawar: Pashto Academy University of Peshawar, 2008.
•
Net Hydel Power Profit. www.google.com.
•
Pakistan: Literacy rate is still 50 percent. www.taraqee.wordpress.com.
•
Peace. www.brainyquote.com.
•
Pukhtunistan; The Khyber Pass as the focus of new State of Pakhunistan.
•
Shah, Dr. Babar. The Myth of Talibnisation of Pakistan. www.issi.org
•
Sandy, Leo R. & jr., Ray Perkins. The Nature of Peace and its Implication for Peace Education. www.playmouth.edu-isandpeacedef.html.
•
Taj, Farhat Objectifying the Pakhtoon. The News. 19th August, 2009.
•
The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, www.pakistan.org/Pakistan/constitution
•
Trans. By Bouman, Helen B. My Life and Struggle. New Delhi: Hind Pocket Books, 1969.
•
Ullah, Ihsan. Edward Mission Higher Secondary School. Unpublished.
•
Understanding Peace, Conflict and Governance. www.wiki.tigweb.org.
•
What is Constructive Criticism?. www.wisegeek.com.
•
Workman, Bernard A. ed. New Caxton Encyclopedia, Caxton Publishing, London, 1973.
•
Zeerak, Javaid, Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations; The Choice Between Alliance and Acrimony, www.chowk.com
