PROBLEM OF ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AFGHANISTAN: A PANORAMA OF PASHTUNISATION POLITICS

Abstract

Afghanistan is a heterogenous society in terms of identity, nationality and religious dimensions. Major groups of Afganistan are Turks, Tajiks, Pashtuns and Hazaras. Sovereignity struggle and conflicts among these groups belonging to the various sect and ethnic identity, constitute main subject of this article. Throughout the history, the presence of various identities in Afghanistan dragged the country into ethnic conflicts, social turmoils and even civil war among different ethnic groups. In this study, the influences of sociological factors, identity groups and sectarian dynamics in Afghanistan on Afghan politics have been examined. The history of Afganistan, Pashtun‟s sovereignity, emergence of national Afghan state, politics of Pashtunization, ethnic structure of Afghanistan, fundamental ethnic groups, relations and battle field among them, ethnic groups‟s influences on Afghan politics before the period of Mujahids, in the period of Mujahids and Taliban and after the collapse of Taliban and interim government are tried to be revealed by using some references from important figures and scholors.