Afghan nationalism

Not to be confused with Afghanistanism.

Afghan nationalism, or pan-Afghanism,^[2] is the belief or assertion that the Afghan people are a nation. Afghan nationalists promote the cultural integration of all the people living in Afghanistan. The concept of Afghan nationalism, often politically overlaps with Pashtun irredentism, and uncommonly with Baloch irredentism, as the latter favour the ideas of a "Greater Afghanistan" (i.e. it claims the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan for Afghanistan).^[3] However, Afghan nationalists do not always demand for the Pashtun-speaking parts of Pakistan and others, due to already being at ease with the current state of Afghan affairs, and with the thought of a potential burden being posed by a bigger population, or an additional influence in Afghan politics. Pashtun and Baloch irredentism are mainly common within the Pashtun and the Baloch people of Afghanistan.

The traditional black-red-green tricolor is the main symbol of Afghan nationalism^[1]

History

It has been argued that Afghan nationalism has its roots from the years 1901-1929.^[4] Much of Afghanistan's nationalism is rooted to be after the Great Game, with it arising following the victory of the Emirate of Afghanistan against the British Empire in 1919 after the Third Anglo-Afghan War.^[5] Afghan nationalism has also been described as a cause of the Soviet–Afghan War due to the Afghan mujahideen fighting against what they called 'Soviet neocolonialism'.^[5] Afghan nationalism has also been associated with the Taliban.^[6][7][8][9] During the continuous Afghan Civil Wars in the late 1990s, Afghan nationalism or Afghan patriotism was described as incredibly weak.^[5] Pakistan has also played a role in keeping Afghan nationalism down to prevent "Greater Afghanistan" from becoming a reality, to protect its own interests.^[10]

Afghan nationalism became increasingly prominent in the late 1980s under Mohammed Najibullah. The ideology of the ruling party had gradually changed to one seeking pan-Afghan unity against what was called the threat posed by Pakistan.^[11]

Following the 2021 Taliban offensive and subsequent take-over of Afghanistan in 2021, many in the Afghan diaspora, primarily non-Pashtun members began reassessing Afghan nationalism and the overlaps it has with Pashtun nationalism, this combined with the widely documented historical and current Persecution of Hazaras by the Taliban and various Pashtun-led governments has led to many outright rejecting the Afghan national identity mirroring earlier events such as the ID card (e-Tazkira) controversy.^[12] The Taliban regime's unlawful detainment and torture of civilians in Panjshir Province as part of crackdowns on the opposing National Resistance Front of Afghanistan^[13] has further inflamed such debates and ethnic tensions in the diaspora. This has led to much controversy between Pashtun Afghans and non-Pashtun Afghans leading to the re-emergence of Hazara nationalism and other forms of nationalistic sentiment amongst non-Pashtun members of the diaspora much to the dislike of Pashtun nationalists and Afghan nationalists in the Afghan diaspora.

Beliefs

Afghan nationalists have, at least historically, attempted to build an Afghan national identity as a united Afghan people with a common culture and history.^[4] Afghan nationalists tend to have right-wing conservative positions like those of the Islamic Movement of Taliban, or left-wing Marxist/Socialist positions like those of the Khalqists, Daoud Khan's Revolutionary Party and supporters of the former President Najibullah.^[14]