Pashtunwali

Pashtunwali (Pashto: پښتونوالی‎ पश्तूनवाली ), also referred to as Pakhtunwali (पख्तूनवाली ) or Afghaniyat (अफगानियत ), is the traditional lifestyle and code of honor followed by the Pashtun people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is often interpreted by scholars as the way of the Pashtuns or the code of life. This cultural framework encompasses various principles and customs that guide social interactions, conflict resolution, and community relations among Pashtuns.

Pashtunwali is predominantly practiced in areas where Pashtuns are the majority, particularly in the Pashtun-dominated regions. Its origins can be traced back to ancient pre-Islamic times, reflecting a rich heritage that has been preserved through generations. Core tenets of Pashtunwali include hospitality (melmastia), asylum (nanawatai), and justice (badal), which emphasise loyalty, respect, and the protection of one’s community and family.

Overview

The native Pashtun tribes, often characterised as fiercely independent, have lived in the Pashtunistan region (encompassing eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan) since at least the 1st millennium BC. Throughout this time, much of their mountainous territory has largely remained beyond the control of external governments. The Pashtun resistance to outside authority, combined with the challenging terrain they inhabit, is sometimes thought to contribute to the enduring adherence to the code of life known as Pashtunwali.

The principles of Pashtunwali are recognised and practiced in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as among some Pashtun communities worldwide. Additionally, some non-Pashtun Afghans and others have adopted aspects of its ideology or practices for their own purposes. In contrast, many urbanised Pashtuns may disregard the traditional rules of Pashtunwali. This code, which is passed down through generations, governs both individual and collective behavior among Pashtuns. By being practiced by the majority, Pashtunwali plays a significant role in promoting Pashtunisation, reinforcing cultural identity and unity within the community.

Ideal Pukhtun behaviour approximates the features of Pukhtunwali, the code of the Pukhtuns, which includes the following traditional features: courage (tora), revenge (badal), hospitality (melmestia), generosity to a defeated...

— Maliha Zulfacar, 1999

The Pashtun tribes are always engaged in private or public war. Every man is a warrior, a politician and a theologian. Every large house is a real feudal fortress. ... Every family cultivates its vendetta; every clan, its feud. ... Nothing is ever forgotten and very few debts are left unpaid.

Winston Churchill (My Early Life, Chapter 11: "The Mahmund Valley")