Militancy and Pashtun Culture: Challenges and Developments in Pashtun Society in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The invasion of Afghanistan by the former USSR in 1979 led to violent conflict in the country with severe implications for all neighbouring countries along with Pakistan. Within Pakistan, the most affected people are the Pashtuns bordering Afghanistan. The armed conflict, which started after the USSR invasion, continues to this day. Among other aspects, this conflict has severely affected the social and cultural values of Pashtun society. Due to the continued militancy and extremism in the region, the historical Pashtun social institutions and norms like Jirga, Melmastia (hospitality), and Badal (revenge) has undergone drastic changes alongside profound effects Pashtu literature. This paper attempts to answer the question as to what changes did occur in Pashtun socio-cultural institutions and literature because of continuous militancy during the last several decades. For this research, the researchers used qualitative research methods and used both primary and secondary data. The primary data includes original works of writers and individual in-depth interviews with experts, while secondary data entails a systematic review of the scholarly published data. The study found that the ongoing militancy has severely affected the social fabric of the Pashtun society. It has changed Pashtun social institutions like Jirga, Melmastia, revenge, and literature significantly.