PAFAce
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A Pashtun majority with respect to all others, I meant. 42% Pashtun, 27% Tajik; that is, there is a 15% difference between the first and the closest second. The 42% has little representation in the government, which, in any country, would be as ant-democratic as you can get.Pashtu 42%, Tajik 27%, Uzbek 9%, Hazara 9% just for starters.
Add them up. By themselves the tajiks, uzbeks and hazara hold an advantage. Pashtus have an enormous advantage politically-not unlike a military defending internal lines- but until they mobilze themselves politically it'll lie dormant.
Now, I agree the Pashtun must mobilize for their right of representation. However, the opportunity was never presented to them because the rest of the 58% were bolstered by support of the invading forces. The US and NATO allied with the Northern Alliance to defeat the Taliban, and in return, the NA got control of Afghanistan. Isn't that what we are seeing today? Collective punishment being implemented on the Pashtun by completely sidelining them?
Here is what Wiki states on the Northern Alliance page:
Three ethnic groups dominated the UIF: the Tajiks, who make up 27% of Afghanistan's population and are the second largest ethnic group, the Hazara and the Uzbeks, who each make up about 9% of the population.
Notice the key missing element, the 42% Pashtun. It is time for the ISAF to ensure that the 42% are not sidelined due to age-old political divisions. That might annoy many in the present Afghan government, they might feel that they've won the right to rule the old-fashioned way, militarily, but it is something that must be ensured if true democracy is the intent.
In other words, if you wish a stable Afghanistan, you must pay attention to the largest ethnic group, the Pashtun. There are many experts in your very own country that have said the same. These experts are far more knowledgeable than I am, and most importantly of all, they've been involved in Afghanistan as members of the militarily or as journalists.
We did, way back in the 80s, and so did you. Then you left and times changed, and we were left with two choices; make peace with our neighbors or risk sidelining our own Pashtun populace. We chose the lesser of the two evils, as you and everybody else would have.Too bad Pakistan hasn't taken any interest in promoting solid ties with the MAJORITY of Afghans...you know? The 58% that AREN'T pashtu.
Though, I agree, Pakistan must implement Confidence Building Measures to win back the support of the majority of the Afghan populace, regardless of ethnicity. I don't buy the so-called "polls" that have come out, but I have little doubt there is resentment on both sides.