FACTS AND FALSEHOODS OF PASHTUN ETHNOGENESIS

FACTS: INITIAL FORMATION 2000 YEARS AGO

A reference to an article on the origins of Pashto by renowned Iranologist Johnny Cheung who tells us that the language now known as Pashto was initially (2000 years ago) located in the region of Zarafshan (a Tajik area now in Uzbekistan).

The areas of Greater Paktia and those north of the Hindu Kush were then Indo-Aryan (South Asian) in composition and in fact an extension of Gandhara. That is proved by the tradition regarding the original Vedic Pakhta Dards; the region was dominated by Dardic tribes — now known as “Kohistanis”: other prominent examples of which are Kashmiris, Chitralis and Gilgitis.

However, the incoming southward bound Iranian Saka nomads fused with the greater part of these ancient “Pactyan” Dards to eventually give rise to the Karlani “Pashtuns” of today — who were the original Pashtuns (nowadays categorised as Afridi, Dilazak, Khattak, Turi, Bangash, Orakzai, Banuchi, Daur, Wazir, Mahsud, Mengal, Zadran, Jaji, Muqbil, etc., etc., etc.).

The map in this picture of a page from Johnny Cheung’s book depicts the location of the “proto-Pashto” language — at about the time of Greek rule in Bactria, and that of the Mauryan Dynasty. It was far to the northwest of where it is now. (But this language that later gave rise to Pashto in new environs — would not be recognizable today to a Pashto speaker). All this shows that Pashto’s formation began with the arrival in Sistan and Gandhara of the Sakas.

FALSEHOODS: ABSURD NOTIONS AND COMICAL CONTRADICTIONS — A RIDDLE FOR THE VARIOUS CHAMPIONS AND PROPONENTS OF “PASHTUN HISTORY” TO SOLVE!

It is now commonly touted around — by “official” “scholars” in Afghanistan especially — that Pashtuns have a “5000 year history” (they won’t be able to elaborate further on its details, though). Anyway, let us accept this flawed argument, just for the sake of discussion….

Now let us take the commonly accepted tradition of Pashtun-Afghan descent from Qais the Hebrew. Pashtun history is supposed to begin from the time when Qais Baba is said to have met the Holy Prophet (SAW), who bestowed the title of “Batan” (Pathan) on him after the latter accepted Islam at his hands….

But the Holy Prophet (SAW) lived 1400 years ago. That means that Qais also lived 1400 years ago — if he met with the Prophet in person.

How then does this tradition of 1400 years tally with the claim of 5000 years??

Yes, Jewish history also claims an age of more than 5000 years old — in fact their calendar now measures upwards of 5700 years — but those were Jews, not Pathans!