'The Pashtun Tribes of Afghanistan is a tour de force - combining
erudite analysis, historical research, atmospheric story-telling,
page-turning prose and above all, profound passion.' - Sir Nicholas
Kay, NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan (2019-2020) &
British Ambassador to Afghanistan (2017-2019)
The abrupt withdrawal of US and NATO forces in 2021 ushered in a new era
for Afghanistan. The subsequent Taliban takeover facilitated a reversion
to some of the worst hallmarks of Afghanistan's past, including bans on
women's education and other rights-related roll-backs. Navigating this
new reality necessitates that more constructive relationships are built
between Westerners and Afghans, particularly with the majority
ethnicity - the Pashtun tribes.
The Pashtun Tribes in Afghanistan: Wolves Among Men is the toolkit for
doing so. It provides the knowledge needed to navigate a complex tribal
environment. Framed by first-hand experience and balancing in-depth
analysis with engaging anecdotes, it sheds light on the Pashtun way of
life still enshrined in the ancient "Pashtunwali" honor code. It
explains the tribal structure, tribal territories, historic battles,
prominent figures and even Pashtun proverbs and poets. It also
highlights how recent wars are destroying the tribal arena. Focusing on
people rather than politics, this book unveils the layers, paradoxes and
subtleties of the world's largest tribal society.
On turning the final page, readers will understand the Pashtun brand of
tribalism and how it influences Afghanistan today. They will be aware
that tribal life has been permanently challenged but that the Pashtun
identity remains intact - in psychology if not always in practice. They
will recognize why Pashtuns are not a single entity and should not be
treated as "one". The need to understand the tribes as they understand
themselves will also be clear, particularly their concept of honor.
This book illuminates why, from Alexander the Great to Winston
Churchill, and even with the Taliban today, Pashtuns are still
stereotyped as primitive, violence-prone barbarians. But were men like
Rudyard Kipling right to characterize tribesmen as being "as
unaccountable as the grey Wolf, who is his blood brother?"
This book has the answer.
