Cultural Awareness

Afghanistan

Created and Presented by

LtCol Michael S. Grogan, USMC & GySgt Ronald A. Davis, USMC
Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan
January 2007

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Cultural Awareness Afghanistan

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 Sunnis
-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 Dari
Fought with Northern Alliance against Taliban
Nuristani - Comprises 1% of population
15 autonomous tribes forces to convert to Muslim

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AFGHANISTAN ETHINIC BREAKDOWN

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National Holidays
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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Islamic Colors

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

Submission to God

Sacrifice

Purity

Martyrdom

Religious Groups Differences

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SHIA AND SUNNI:

The split dates back to the death of Prophet
Muhammad---Who would take over leadership?
Sunni believe Islamic political/religious leader should be
elected based on capability
Muhammeds 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

Shia believe the Islamic political/religious leader should be

hereditary
Decent through Mohammeds daughter, Fatima, and her husband, Ali
(Mohammeds cousin).
Shia is Arabic word meaning: Followers; members of a party
15% of all Muslims are Shia

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Cultural Mindset Education and Religion

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.

Cultural Mindset Rural/Urban Views

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Rural philosophy is based on religious conservatism

Urban philosophy is based on secular progressive ideals
Local power structure is determined by the dominant
philosophy of each region

Tribal Characteristics

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Eastern Pashtuns
(No confederation/alliance)
Independent tribes on both sides of Afghanistans 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.

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Southern Afghan Tribal Names

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

Durrani
Achakzai
Alikozai
Alizai
Barakzai
Mohammadzai
Nurzai
Popolzai

Ghilzai
Ahmadzai
Alikhel
Andar
Hotaki
Jadran
Jaji
Kharruti

Nasir
Sulaiman Khel
Taraki
Tokhi
Wazir

Nuristani
(Non-Pashtun)

Aroki
Bushgalis
Gawarbati
Kalashis
Kom

Ksto
Lumgalis
Parachi
Rumgalis
Sufeid Posh

DOS AND DONT

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The essential elements of the Pushtunwali Code are to avoid shame (haya) and seek honor
(namuz) for oneself and ones family. The following behaviors should be avoided:
Dont use the left hand for physical contact with others, to
eat, or to make gestures; it is considered unclean.
Dont sit with the soles of your feet facing someone. It
indicates that person is beneath you.
Dont show a woman attention by addressing, touching,
or staring at her. Dont ask men direct questions about their
female relatives.
Dont walk away from someone who is speaking to you.
Dont tell an Afghan he is wrong if he gives incorrect
information. It is considered a slight.
Dont express emotion in public; it is considered a weakness.
Dont expect Afghans to be able to read, especially outside
urban centers.
Dont beckon or point with a finger. It is considered rude
and may be mistaken for a challenge.
Dont wear sunglasses indoors. It is considered disrespectful
of the buildings status and its host.
Dont offer an Afghan food or drink or publicly consume
either during Ramadan, when Muslims fast.

DOS AND DONT

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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 and
departure. Always shake with the right hand.
Do try all food offered. This acknowledges the
hospitality of the host. Often, items offered may have
been difficult to acquire.
Do understand the nature of Afghan hospitality as
an opportunity for the host to display power and gain
honor. The hosts effort should be recognized.
Do expect to spend much of a visit socializing and
drinking tea before discussing business.
Do use applicable professional or academic titles.
Titles such as engineer, doctor, and professor,
confer recognition of achievement and honor the
individual, his family, and his tribe.
Do expect Afghans to have a different sense of time
and punctuality. Afghans believe a task will be

Pushtunwali Code
Pashtun cultural practices often supersede religious ones.
Jihad (religious struggle) can also mean defense of tribal
honor, family, and loyalty.
Pashtuns often express religious devotion through the
Pushtunwali 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 Code
(continued)

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 leaders
who 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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Pashtuan People
Pashtuns are organized into tribes and tribal blocs
Distinguished by their language, ancestry, and history
Most are Hanafi Sunni Muslims, but there are some Shia

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 GEOGRAPHY

Afghanistan Terrain

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QUESTIONS?