Cultural Heritage and Extremism in Pakistan: Re-focusing on the Kalasha of (Chitral) Pakistan
Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali
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 14th 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
The full article can be downloaded from:
