Cultural Heritage and Extremism in Pakistan: Re-focusing on the Kalasha of (Chitral) Pakistan

Cultural Heritage and Extremism in Pakistan: Re-focusing on the Kalasha of (Chitral) Pakistan

Author: Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali

Co-authors: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla and Dr. Ghulam Shabbir

Abstract

This study is an attempt to explore, investigate and analyse threats of survival of the Kalasha people. Kalasha is the sole polytheist tribe of the Hindu Kush region-Pakistan. Once in near history, the Kalasha was the ruling tribe of whole Chitral valley for a long period. The Kalasha were raided by the Muslims in the 14^th century. The demarcation of Durand Line (Pak-Afghan border) in 1893 became their lifeline when they fell to the British Indian government while their tribe fellows at the other side of the Pak-Afghan border in Afghanistan were forcefully converted as a whole in 1896. Somehow, the Kalasha of Pakistan were leading their life according to their dastoor (culture & religion) and then military coup of 1977 brought ill-fate for them under pseudo Islamization of military ruler Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. The Talibanization/extremism suppressed the Kalasha indigenous tribe. The event of 9/11 devastatingly hit the tribe for their faith and their strategic location. As reactions and chain reactions of War on Terror many extremists and terrorist groups mushroomed, especially in tribal agencies and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan recently threatened the Kalasha to convert their faith or to be ready for genocide. The Kalasha people are seeking their survival through their unique identity. They could earn soft image trait for Pakistan, but unfortunately, extremism, terrorism and ill-governance of the state losing it for decades. If the government failed to protect them, we will lose a unique tribe and culture.

Keywords: Kalasha tribe, minorities, pagan tribe, Talibanization, extremism, cultural tourism, governance issues

Journal: Pakistan Social Sciences Review

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Cultural Heritage and Extremism in Pakistan: Re-focusing on the Kalasha of (Chitral) Pakistan