Pakhtoons History.

Pukhtoon history can be divided into three main phases:

Pre-Historic Times

Without deeply referencing theories of archeology, the first phase of history comprises of those beliefs that begin the narration from the pre-historic times when people lived in the caves and mountains, usually as nomads. There is no documented record of those times, but the general understanding is that people lived a remote life in the mountains of Hindukush. There is also no proof that these people spoke the Pushto language.

Middle Ages

The second layer of history moves from Alexander’s time to the Islamic times when either the people from Afghanistan were linked to Arabia or they tried to establish some link with them. Contrary theories negate this notion of a Jirga meeting the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Unto Him) as better records indicate that the people in Afghanistan were still Buddhists until a few hundred years after the introduction of Islam.

Historian Niamat Ullah says that the lack of authentic books on Pukhtoon history is due to the fact that the Prophet Musa (Moses) surpassed Pharaoh and took Jerusalem and Syria. Then Bakht-e-Nasr attacked Israelis, captured all their lands, looted Jerusalem, and exiled them from their country. The Israelis became gypsies, moving from one place to another and permanently settled nowhere. They lacked literate as well as religious activities, and if they had any activity those were relinquished gradually. They did not have means to record the events of their present and recent past.

Present Times

The third phase of the history of Pukhtoons is the most recent and the most credible one. This can go as back as far as the 17th century, but better records are available for the eighteenth century and beyond when the Russians and British were engaged in “The Great Game.” There are plenty of books written and available from western authors regarding the geography, traditions, and culture of these Pukhtoons and Afghans as the British, as well as the Russians, tried to explore the area and understand its people. Western scholars took keen interest in the Pukhtoon culture and traditions as people followed quite sophisticated, indigenous, and autonomous life style, which were difficult to handle through the regular imperial methods of Russia and the British.

The Islamic Link

These tribes followed Jewish religion until the inception of Islam. Khalid bin Waleed, a companion of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), is believed to be from this tribe. It is believed that Khalid Bin Waleed sent a message to his relatives residing in the mountains of “Ghore” to embrace Islam. These people in turn sent a delegation (Jirga) to Makkah / Madina under the leadership of one Qais to inquire about the teachings of Islam. Upon meeting with the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and being impressed with his teachings, all of them became Muslim. On their way back, a few Arab preachers of Islam accompanied them to Afghana for extending the teachings of Islam to others. In about the next forty years or so, it is believed that all these tribes in Afghana area converted to Islam.

Some historians are of the opinion that when the Arabs conquered this region, they gave this name (Afghan) to Pukhtoons due to their chatter behavior among themselves and during their Jirgas. The word afghan has been derived from Arabic language, which means chattering. “If the origin of a race can be determined on the basis of customs and traditions then Pukhtoon would be closer to Arabs. The study of Arabian and Pukhtoon society presents a remarkable resemblance particularly in their tribal organization and social usages. Both possess the same virtues and characteristics”.

The significance of history to Pukhtoons as a people is quite interesting in the cultural context, but there is no resolution of the discussion as to whether Pukhtoons are descendants of Bani Israel or of someone else. Perhaps this nostalgia is associated with the Pukhtoons pride of being a martial race. For the purpose of this work, we tend to agree that Pukhtoons, with reference to their history, try to represent in their culture and conduct a level of prudence that distinguishes them from others in the region.



The Jewish Link

Most local historians link the larger Pukhtoon tribe with the twelve tribes of Jews, who are said to be expelled from Jerusalem by the invading Bakhte-Nasr (598 BC). One of those tribes found abode in the present day Afghanistan, which is believed to be named after the grandfather of these tribes, namely “Afghana”. Some historians are of the opinion that “Afghana” was the son of the Prophet Ismail and grandson of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Others argue that Afghana was the son of Armiya and Armiya was the son of the Prophet Taloot. While confirming the Jewish nature, some historians also narrate the story that when Nadir Shah (of Iran) attacked the Indian subcontinent and reached Peshawar, the elders of Yousufzai tribe presented the invaders with a copy of Torah in the Hebrew language along with many other things used by the Jews in their worship. The Jews in Nadir Shah‘s army recognized those things and identified these people as Jews. Abdullah Khan Hirati, a Pukhtoon historian, is of the opinion that the Prophet Taloot was the king of Jews, who had two sons, one was Afghan and the other was Jaloot. Afghan was the grandfather of the Pukhtoon tribe and that is why Pukhtoons are also called Afghans”.