Created and Presented byCreated and Presented byLtCol Michael S. Grogan, USMC & GySgt Ronald A. Davis, USMCLtCol Michael S. Grogan, USMC & GySgt Ronald A. Davis, USMC

Camp Schwab, Okinawa, JapanCamp Schwab, Okinawa, JapanJanuary 2007January 2007

Cultural Awareness Cultural Awareness AfghanistanAfghanistan

Cultural Awareness Cultural Awareness AfghanistanAfghanistan

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Ethnic Groups: Pashtuan – 40% of population Largest and most dominate population - mostly Sunni - Speak Pashtu and Dari - urban areas- Formed Taliban Core – loyal until defeat

Tajiks – No tribal identity. Strong family ties-wary of Pashtuan Leadership -Opposed Taliban -Sunni Muslims of Persian Ancestry -Comprises 25% of the population

Hazara –Shia Muslims – persecuted by Sunni’s-Speak Hazagari – Language close to Dari-Fought with Northern Alliance against Taliban-Comprises 10% of the population

Uzbeks – Sunni Muslims of Turkic ancestry -Speak Uzbec and DariFought with Northern Alliance against Taliban

Nuristani - Comprises 1% of population15 autonomous tribes forces to convert to Muslim

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Cultural Awareness AfghanistanCultural Awareness AfghanistanCultural Awareness AfghanistanCultural Awareness Afghanistan

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AFGHANISTAN ETHINIC BREAKDOWNAFGHANISTAN ETHINIC BREAKDOWN

Mt Arafat Day – 1 Feb

Navroz – 20 March

Loss of Muslim Nation – 28 Apr

National Day – 19 Aug

Pashtunisan Day – 30-31 Aug

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National HolidaysNational HolidaysNational HolidaysNational Holidays

Islamic Colors Islamic Colors Islamic Colors Islamic Colors

Muslims fly flags to observe holidays or dates to observe personal significance. Each color has a specific meaning:

Submission to God

Sacrifice

Purity

Martyrdom

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SHI’A AND SUNNI:• The split dates back to the death of Prophet Muhammad---Who would take over leadership?

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Religious Groups DifferencesReligious Groups DifferencesReligious Groups DifferencesReligious Groups Differences

• Shi’a – believe the Islamic political/religious leader should be hereditary

• Decent through Mohammed’s daughter, Fatima, and her husband, Ali (Mohammed’s cousin).• “Shi’a” is Arabic word meaning: “Followers; members of a party”• 15% of all Muslims are Shi’a

• Sunni – believe Islamic political/religious leader should be elected based on capability

• Muhammed’s close friend & advisor: Abu Bakr – First Islamic Caliph• “Sunni” is Arabic word meaning: “One who follows the traditions of the prophet”• 85% of all Muslims are Sunni

Education:Education is lacking by Western standards.

Most Afghans are illiterate; few can read words or maps.

Historical accounts are limited to local events, often skewed by Afghan bias and sheltered existences, and may be referred to as recent events.

Scholars and educators bring honor to family and tribe, and their views are considered infallible, more so if these views compete with Western ideas.

Religion:

Religious credentials are highly respected and often determine leadership in this predominately Muslim society

Religious leaders are considered infallible

Their instructions and judgments are based on the word of God as cited in the Koran or the practices of Muhammad as cited in the Hadith and the Sunna.

Non-Muslim beliefs and practices (holy trinity, eating pork, etc.) are considered wrong.

Do not confront a Muslim on his religious beliefs.

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Cultural Mindset – Education and ReligionCultural Mindset – Education and Religion

Rural philosophy is based on religious conservatism

Urban philosophy is based on secular progressive ideals

Local power structure is determined by the dominantphilosophy of each region

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Cultural Mindset – Rural/Urban ViewsCultural Mindset – Rural/Urban Views

Eastern Pashtuns(No confederation/alliance)

•Independent tribes on both sides of Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.•Alliances form and are broken based on local conditions.•Some tribes control routesv passes, and border crossings.•Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin and Taliban operate in this region.

Southern Pashtuns (Ghilzai Confederation)

•Historical opposition to Durrani Pashtuns.•Historically, troublesome Ghilzai leaders removed from tribal areas. to northern Afghanistan government postings became “detribalized Pashtuns.”•Taliban and al Qaida operate in their region.

Southern Pashtuns (Ghilzai Confederation)

•Durrani elites have been the traditional rulers of Afghanistan.•The lower class formed the base of the Taliban movement in the Durrani region.•President Hamid Karzai is a Durrani of the Popolzai tribe.

Nuristanis

•No formal alliances exist between tribes, due to isolation imposed by the extreme terrain.•Hospitality is similar to that of the Pushtunwali Code.•Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin and al Qaida forces have routinely operated in the Nuristani region.

UNCLASSIFIEDUNCLASSIFIEDTribal CharacteristicsTribal Characteristics

Afghan Names: Some Afghans use tribal names for last names. Othersadopt local names. These names can provide a general idea of their location.The following lists major tribes in Afghanistan.

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Southern Afghan Tribal NamesSouthern Afghan Tribal Names

Durrani

AchakzaiAlikozaiAlizaiBarakzaiMohammadzaiNurzaiPopolzai

Ghilzai

AhmadzaiAlikhelAndarHotakiJadranJajiKharruti

Nuristani (Non-Pashtun)

ArokiBushgalisGawarbatiKalashisKom

NasirSulaiman KhelTarakiTokhiWazir

KstoLumgalisParachiRumgalisSufeid Posh

The essential elements of the Pushtunwali Code are to avoid shame (haya) and seek honor (namuz) for oneself and one’s family. The following behaviors should be avoided:

Don’t use the left hand for physical contact with others, toeat, or to make gestures; it is considered unclean.

Don’t sit with the soles of your feet facing someone. Itindicates that person is beneath you.

Don’t show a woman attention by addressing, touching,or staring at her. Don’t ask men direct questions about theirfemale relatives.

Don’t walk away from someone who is speaking to you.

Don’t tell an Afghan he is wrong if he gives incorrectinformation. It is considered a slight.

Don’t express emotion in public; it is considered a weakness.

Don’t expect Afghans to be able to read, especially outsideurban centers.

Don’t beckon or point with a finger. It is considered rudeand may be mistaken for a challenge.

Don’t wear sunglasses indoors. It is considered disrespectfulof the building’s status and its host.

Don’t offer an Afghan food or drink or publicly consumeeither during Ramadan, when Muslims fast.

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DO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’T

Afghans conduct themselves so as to bring honor and respect to themselves and their families. The following customs should be practiced:

Do shake hands firmly but gently in greeting anddeparture. Always shake with the right hand.

Do try all food offered. This acknowledges thehospitality of the host. Often, items offered may havebeen difficult to acquire.

Do understand the nature of Afghan hospitality asan opportunity for the host to display power and gainhonor. The host’s effort should be recognized.

Do expect to spend much of a visit socializing anddrinking tea before discussing business.

Do use applicable professional or academic titles.Titles such as “engineer,” “doctor,” and “professor,”confer recognition of achievement and honor theindividual, his family, and his tribe.

Do expect Afghans to have a different sense of timeand punctuality. Afghans believe a task will becompleted according to God’s will.

Do give a gift in return for one received. Giftsacknowledge or initiate relationships.

Do beckon others by extending your hand, palmdownward, and curling fingers inward.

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DO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’TDO’S AND DON’T

Pashtun cultural practices often supersede religious ones.

Jihad (religious struggle) can also mean defense of tribalhonor, family, and loyalty.

Pashtuns often express religious devotion through thePushtunwali Code

a standard of behavior centered on honor (namuz) and shame (haya).

Pashtuns place a high value on the following concepts:

Hospitality (malmastia): Affording shelter and sanctuary to all is a social obligation conferring honor on the host.

Political patronage is a form of hospitality that allows a host to retain loyalty from and power over those subordinates.

Solidarity (nang): The code mandates devotion and loyalty to families, tribes, and designated religious, tribal, and political leaders, especially those who represent the tribe.

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Pushtunwali CodePushtunwali Code

Territorialism (ghayrat): Loyalty to the homeland is displayed through a willingness to defend tribal and personal territory, property, and individuals. Though often called jihad in Pashtun circles, a fight does not need a religious basis.

Bravery (tureh): Pashtuns consider defensive or security roles in warfare shameful and insulting. However, conducting a surprise hit-and-run attack against a superior force, and other such acts of bravado, brings honor to a fighter and his tribe. Coalition leaderswho use their Afghan fighters in offensive roles will likely see higher morale than those who use them defensively.

Revenge (badal): It is considered honorable to respond to slights between individuals or tribes with reciprocation. This philosophy limits excessive violence between tribes. Failure to take revenge is perceived as shameful.

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Pushtunwali Code (continued)

Pushtunwali Code (continued)

•Pashtuns are organized into tribes and tribal blocs

•Distinguished by their language, ancestry, and history

•Most are Hanafi Sunni Muslims, but there are some Shi’a

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Pashtuns in Pakistan

•As many as 3 million Pashtuns in Pakistan are refugees past fighting in Afghanistan

•Most Pashtuns recognize the political, but not the cultural border between the two•Countries

•Many want to unite the two Pashtun areas into a greater “Pashtunistan”

•Pashtuns see themselves as the rightful and historical leaders of Afghanistan.

Jirga

•Pashtuan tribal and religious leaders assemble to deliberate matters of great importance.

•Jirga is employed at all levels of Pashtuan society

•A Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) is a national, deliberative body involving all Afghans

•Afghanistan is governed by a Pashtun code of conduct called Pushtunwali (see panel below).

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Afghanistan TerrainUNCLASSIFIEDUNCLASSIFIED

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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