New Delhi: A year after the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, a new book now explores one of the largest ethnic groups inhabiting the region — the Pashtuns. From their history, to the rules and customs they follow, the author takes readers through the story of one of the world’s largest ethnic groups “without a country of their own”.
Published by HarperCollins, The Pashtuns: A Contested History by analyst Tilak Devasher will be released on 27 September on Softcover, ThePrint’s online venue to launch non-fiction books.
Through his book, the author attempts to expand the geopolitical understanding of South Asia, particularly about the Pashtuns. Using his expertise in security and strategic studies, Devasher explores the shifting power structures in Afghanistan after the US’ withdrawal last year.
Devasher, who is a member of the National Security Advisory Board, had previously served as the special secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.
Specialising in issues related to security, especially concerning India and Pakistan, Devasher has written another three widely acclaimed books — Pakistan: Courting the Abyss (2016), Pakistan: At the Helm (2018) and Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum (2019).
“The book (The Pashtuns: A Contested History) looks upon the Pashtuns inhabiting a single piece of real estate though divided into two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – by the artificial Durand Line. Their commonality of descent, religion, language, historical memories, cultural and familial bonds and a common code, Pashtunwali (the way of the Pashtun), makes it easy to do so. This commonality and unity are best expressed in the Pashto phrase: Lar O Bar Yaw Afghan, which means the Afghans in the lowlands i.e. Pakistan and the Highlands, i.e. Afghanistan, are one,” said Devasher while discussing the book.
‘Unique insight into Afghanistan’
The 500-page-long book examines the region inhabited by the Pashtuns, the rise of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the region. The Pashtuns inhabit lands across borders and countries. From the Hindu Kush to the Indus, the community straddles Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The book details how, in the 1980s, Pakistan used the Pashtun-dominated regions in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as launching pads against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and also during the US-led ‘War on Terror’ years later.
Swati Chopra, associate publisher at HarperCollins India, said Devasher brings a unique insight into Afghanistan.
“Devasher brings his considerable geopolitical expertise to the history of the Pashtuns as he traces their origin, their inevitable clash with colonial powers, Cold War encounters with global superpowers, the terrible price extracted by the War on Terror, and their ongoing predicament of being spread across restive borders.
“Placed, as they are, between the strategic interests of India, Pakistan, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, as well as US and China in the region, the book deftly explores why their present and future might be as contested as their past,” Chopra said.
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