Scientific and Theoretical Analyses of Pashtun Origins

Buranov Sukhrob Muhammadi Ugli

and Abdurahmanov Obidjan Nabijan Ugli

Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Abgan, Abdali, Amazon Basin, Durrani, Gilzois, Paktians, Pashtunwali, Pukhtuns, Patan, Tallit.

Abstract: The article is devoted to studying the views of foreign and local scholars about the origin of the Pashtuns,

who have a great position in the administration of the state and society of Afghanistan. We can see approaches

that Pashtuns are descended from Jewish, Aryan, and Turkic tribes. The purpose of the article is to determine

that the theories proposed by scientists contradict each other and do not have sufficient grounds.

1 INTRODUCTION

Researching issues related to Pashtun history,

traditions, lifestyle, location, and their role in Afghan

society plays an invaluable role in promoting peace

and stability in the country. Pashtuns have

significantly influenced the formation and

development of Afghan statehood, as well as various

inter-ethnic relations. A thorough analysis of

scientific and theoretical approaches concerning the

impact of the inter-Afghan peace process on this

ethnic group remains a pressing contemporary issue.

It is crucial to highlight that delving into the history

of Pashtuns, including their genealogy, tribal

structures, and unwritten laws, is a complex

undertaking. Willem Vogelsang, the former deputy

director of the Institute of International Asian Studies

at Leiden University in the Netherlands, aptly noted,

"Studying the history of the origin of Afghans and

Pashtuns is akin to exploring the source of the

Amazon River.".

2 DISCUSSIONS

The history of the Pashtuns and the evolution of the

term "Pashtun" are intricately intertwined with the

history of Afghanistan. According to the perspective

presented in the book "History of Afghanistan" by

A.M. Mannonov, N.A. Abdullayev, and R.R.

Rashidov, experts in Afghanistan studies, the origins

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2725-3767

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3794-4502

of the Pashtuns can be traced back to the earliest

inhabitants of the Afghan territory, dating back to the

Paleolithic period. During this time, evidence such as

specialized hunting weapons discovered along the

Amudarya River in northern Afghanistan suggests the

presence of Paleolithic hunters.

It is important to note that while there is evidence

of ancient inhabitants in the region during the

Paleolithic period, there is no conclusive information

linking these people directly to the ancestors of the

Pashtuns. The study of Pashtun genealogy involves

various approaches, each exploring different aspects

such as language, customs, values, and physical

appearance. Afghan historical scholars, researchers,

ethnographers, anthropologists, and linguists offer

diverse perspectives on the origin of the Pashtuns.

These approaches to analysing Pashtun genealogy

include:

• Historical approach.

• Ethnocultural approach.

• Linguistic approach.

• Mythological approach.

In summary, the history of the Pashtuns is a

complex narrative that involves a multidimensional

analysis, considering historical, ethnocultural,

linguistic, and mythological perspectives.

Historical Approach: This approach aims to

determine the origin and ethnogenesis of the Pashtuns

by comparing them with manuscripts, handicrafts,

and the histories of other nations. Unfortunately,

detailed information about Pashtun genealogy is

scarce and often unreliable. The views of historians,

1288

Ugli, B. and Ugli, A.

Scientiﬁc and Theoretical Analyses of Pashtun Origins.

DOI: 10.5220/0012964800003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 1288-1291

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

orientalists, ethnographers, and linguists researching

the origin of Pashtuns are divided. Some claim

Pashtuns have Jewish ancestry, while others argue for

connections to historical states and peoples in

Afghanistan, such as Aryans, Achaemenids,

Hephthals, Sakas, Bactrians, and Arabs.

Baht Munir, an assistant professor at the

University of Lahore, supports the Semitic and Aryan

theories of Pashtun ancestry. However, there is a lack

of concrete evidence, and the preservation of Pashtun

history and culture is deemed inadequate.

Afghanistan's strategic location in the Eurasian space

has led to conflicts among global powers, further

contributing to the disappearance of historical sources

on Pashtuns.

Various scholars, including Herodotus, Bernard

Dupaigne, Y.V. Gankovsky, and others, propose

connections between Pashtuns and Persians, Sakas,

Hephthals, and Aryans. The Hephthalite rule in

Kandahar is linked to the belief that Pashtuns are

descended from the Hephthals. The term "Afghan" is

mentioned in Sassanid inscriptions, indicating

influences from Sassanids, Arabs, and Somanites on

Pashtun ethnogenesis.

Notably, some English researchers in the 19th

century suggested that Pashtuns were descendants of

the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, a claim not

substantiated by genetic research. Pashtun genetic

studies suggest they are a distinct race, separate from

the Bani Israel.

The debate extends to Pashtun views, with some

supporting the theory of Jewish ancestry. Nematullah

al-Haravi, Olaf Caroe, Said Bahadirshah Zafar

Kakakhel, and others assert Pashtun descent from the

Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Olaf Caroe suggests

connections between the Prophet's Ansar and

Pashtuns in Gur, while Qazi Atullah Khan disagrees,

stating that the Bani Israel tribe did not accept the new

religion until later.

In conclusion, the origin of Pashtuns remains

uncertain, with conflicting theories and limited

reliable sources. The debate encompasses historical,

genetic, and cultural perspectives, making it a

complex and intriguing subject of study.

Ethnocultural Approach: According to this

perspective, the origins of the Pashtuns are

interpreted based on their culture, customs, traditions,

and overall way of life, which have been preserved

over time in comparison to other peoples. Scientific

works by researchers such as Sara Aharon, Israeli

anthropologist, Professor Avigdor Shachan, Yevgeny

Aizenberg, Miryam Argaman, Dr. Anatoly Klyosov,

Dr. Hamid Saidov, Yasmin Eliaz, Dr. Yusufzai, Ari

Greenspan, and Z. Zivotofsky provide information

about the Pashtun origins, linking them to Jewish

heritage through their customs and traditions.

Anatoly Klyosov and Hamid Saidov's work, titled

"Yevri i Pashtuni Afganistana" (Jews and Pashtuns of

Afghanistan), emphasizes the importance of studying

Pashtuns and their society to analyze their

ethnogenesis, genealogical structure, and kinship ties

comprehensively. The research suggests that

historical and comparative analysis of Pashtun

genealogy is crucial in understanding them as a socio-

cultural group.

Sarah Aharon's book, "From Kabul to Queens:

The Jews of Afghanistan and Their Move to the

United States," mentions that Afghan Jews have

considered themselves descendants of the 10 lost

tribes of Jews who fell into the hands of Assyria for

many centuries. While there's a popular myth linking

Pashtuns to Jewish tribes, the authenticity of this

claim remains unconfirmed due to the lack of reliable

sources.

In an analytical article translated by Miryam

Argaman, the question is raised: "Are the Pashtuns

Israel's Lost Tribe?" It notes that some Pashtun

traditions resemble Jewish traditions, such as

circumcision on the eighth day after birth, following

kashrut and dietary regulations, and distinguishing

between clean and unclean birds according to the

Torah. However, the article acknowledges that these

similarities are not entirely reliable, as customs like

circumcision and the use of white cloth (Kafan) after

death are common in the broader Islamic world.

Evgeny Aizenberg points out the visual

resemblance between Pashtuns and Jews, suggesting

a connection between the two based on observable

similarities in the laws of the Torah and the unwritten

laws of Pashtun honor codes. Yasmin Eliaz also notes

parallels between Pashtun customs, such as lighting

candles on special occasions and avoiding the

consumption of meat and dairy together, and Jewish

traditions. Dr. Yusufzai mentions similarities

between the Pashtun Attan dance and Jewish Hora

and Hasidic dances, particularly in the movement of

the feet.

In conclusion, researchers emphasize that there

are undeniable cultural similarities between Pashtuns

and Jews, despite the lack of concrete evidence

supporting a direct ancestral link.

Linguistic Approach: According to this perspective,

the most reliable information regarding the origin of

the Pashtuns can be elucidated by examining the

sources of the Pashto language. Indeed, special

attention to the language factor is essential in

understanding Pashtun genealogy. Furthermore, the

sole surviving source of analysis from the time of the

Scientiﬁc and Theoretical Analyses of Pashtun Origins

1289

Pashtuns to the present is the Pashto language. A

thorough investigation into the origin of the Pashto

language provides a direct pathway to identifying

Pashto ethnogenesis.

In Zmaray Mukhaqiq's book titled "Historical

Roots of the Pashtun Family" ( ﺩ ﭘﻮﻨﺘ ﺩ ﺮﺠﺷې ﻲﺨﻳﺭﺎﺗ

ﻳﺭ ﯥ ), scholars, historians, and orientalists posit that

the Pashtuns are descendants of Bani Israel,

considering them one of the ten lost tribes of the Jews.

On the other hand, some researchers oppose this

view, asserting that Pashtuns are descendants of

Aryans, whose language is Indo-European, or Aryan.

According to linguistic rules, Pashto is unrelated to

Hebrew, the language of the Jews. This dichotomy

suggests an approach that links Pashtuns to Jews

based on appearance, legends, narratives, shared

values, and traditions, while associating the Pashto

language with the Aryans.

For instance, Ahmadullah Aziz, a researcher at

Saeed Jamaluddin Afghan University, contends that

Pashto and the Pashtun people have a long history,

tracing their descent to the Aryan ethnic group with a

historical existence dating back to 5000 BC. Ancient

monuments and artifacts of the Pashtuns are

predominantly found in Bakhtar and Bukhdi. Pashto,

being an ancient language with a rich folklore and

oral literature, suggests indications of cohabitation

with the Aryans during that period. However, claims

of linguistic similarities between Pashto and Hebrew

remain unconfirmed and may stem from groups

asserting Jewish descent for Pashtuns.

According to G. Morgenstern, "Pakhtun" is a

secondary form of the Eastern Pashto word preserved

in the Western dialect as "Pashtun." The character

"sht" in Pashto corresponds to the compound "rs"

used in old Iranian, such as "porsidan" in Middle

Persian and "pushtel" in Pashto, both meaning "to

ask." The Indo-Aryan name "Pathans" is derived from

the Pashtun adaptation "pashtan." The term "Pashtu"

(Pashto) today denotes the common socio-cultural

identity of the Pashtuns. Taking the historical

perspective of Pashtun origin from a linguistic

standpoint implies a connection to Aryan, Iranian

tribes, as some information is found in Zoroastrian

holy books like Avesta, Behustun rock inscriptions,

and Rigveda.

The treatise "Historical Evolution of Pashto

Language" by Kabul University professors Bayazid

Achak and Muhammad Anwar Khairy underscores

the significance of Pashto as part of the Orian

language family, acting as a link between Indian and

Iranian groups of Orian languages. According to

some scholars, Pashto is a language belonging to the

same family as "Avesta." A thorough exploration of

the history of the Pashto language and the discovery

of valid evidence are crucial for resolving the

controversial history of the Pashtuns.

Mythological Approach: According to this

perspective, the origins of the Pashtuns have

historically been diverse. Due to a lack of reliable

information, oral narratives have emerged among the

people. The tribal structure of the Pashtuns, as

outlined by Bernt Glatzer in his book "The Pashtun

Tribal System," was not solely based on the clan

principle. Representatives of other ethnic groups

seeking refuge in accordance with the "Pashtunvoli"

code were accepted. Over time, through marriage and

having children, these individuals assimilated

completely into Pashtun society.

Glatzer details in his book that prominent Pashtun

tribes like Afridi and Gilzoi established connections

with other Pashtun tribes through intermarriage and

family ties. Additionally, the "Legend of Gilzoi" is

recounted in Nematullah's "History of Afghanistan."

According to the legend, Shah Husayn, seeking

refuge, marries Sheikh Batni's daughter, Matu, and

their union leads to the founding of the Gilzoi tribe.

The process of Pashtun origin, according to this

account, varied, and the formation of tribes did not

strictly adhere to the principle of spreading from one

clan. Some Western scholars propose that the Gilzoi

tribe, in particular, was initially a Turkic tribe during

the Middle Ages that later joined the Pashtun

community. Nematullah mentions cases of groups

whose lineage and origin are unknown but accepted

the Pashtuns.

In Henry Walter Bellevue's "The Race of

Afghanistan," various theories about Pashtun origins

are presented, including Iranian mythology

attributing the Abdali (Durrani) and Yusufzai tribes

to the descendants of Afghanistan's sons named

Sharkbun and Harshbun. Pashtun tradition suggests a

common ancestry, but differing narratives and lack of

specific sources result in variations, with names like

Qays Abdurrashid or Daru Nika ascribed to the

founders.

Myths and legends, while not fully revealing

Pashtun origins, play a significant role in oral

creativity among the Pashtun people. The scarcity of

necessary sources contributes to the emergence of

such myths.

3 CONCLUSION

The historical roots of the Pashtuns remain unclear

due to a lack of detailed sources on their

ethnogenesis. The conflicting opinions among

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foreign and local historians and ethnographers can be

attributed to the scarcity of reliable information about

Pashtun origins. Consequently, various ancient

groups with names resembling Pashtuns are

considered potential ancestors. The historical

perspective suggests that Pashtuns may have roots in

lost Jewish tribes, Hephthalites (Aqhuns), Arabs,

Iranians, Greek peoples, and Rajputs.

Alternatively, the linguistic approach traces the

origin of Pashtuns back to Aryan tribes, with the

Pashto language serving as a key factor in this

analysis. Ethnocultural and mythological approaches

have also been proposed, although they often lack

empirical evidence. Nevertheless, the significance of

similarities and stories preserved in folk traditions

cannot be dismissed.

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