Afghanistan
Pashtuns & Hazaras
Research Inspired by
The Kite Runner
Afghanistan’s Population
• The population may be divided into four
main ethnic groups.
• Two of the groups:
• The Pashtuns (Pathans), meaning true
Afghans, make up over 40% of the total
population
• Other large groups include Hazaras
and Uzbeks (close to 10% each)
• About 80% of the people live and work in
rural areas, and many still lead a
nomadic life.
Map of Ethnic Groups
http://www.nationalge
ographic.com/landinc
risis/ethnic.html
Pashtuns
http://tomallwood.com/locations/pakistan/pashtun_girls.php
http://www.gbgmumc.org/honduras/photos/Afghan%20Refugees/Quetta%20Hazara%2
0refugee%20girl%20face%20m.jpg
Hazaras supposedly look more like Mongols
(which Pashtuns hold against them)
Pashtuns
•http://tripatlas.com/Hazaras
•http://anapejcinova.blog.com.mk/syste
m/files?file=image007_5.jpg
http://www.moviewallpapers.net/image
s/wallpapers/2007/mongol/mongol-31280.jpg
A Pashtun and Hazara Boy
The Differences?
•Rounder eyes
•Darker skin
Two Afghan boys, the one on the left probably an ethnic
Pashtun and the one on the right an ethnic Hazara.
http://www.davestravelcorner.com/journals/publish/article_120.shtml
How does the book explain Hassan?
So why do Hazaras and Pashtuns not
get along?
Well, it seems to be about the two
things wars are almost always
about:
1. Power
2. Religion
Power
• The Pashtuns are the largest group
and they want to dominate
• Most members of the Taliban are
Pashtun
• Over the past several thousand years,
Afghanistan has been in war. This
breaks a country down.
• The Pashtuns fought for
Afghanistan’s independence and kept
the power.
Religion
Islam
• All believe in one God – Allah
• They believe Muhammad is his prophet
• They believe in the Five Pillars of Islam:
• Recitation, Prayer, Charity, Fasting during
Ramadan, Pilgrimage
• The differences between Shia and
Sunni’s happened after Muhammad’s
death
Shi and Sunni
Shia also called Shi’ites – 15%
(Hazaras)
• Shia’s believe Muhammad’s direct
descendants are the only legitimate
leaders of the Muslim world.
Sunni – 84% (Pashtuns)
• Accept leaders other than Muhammad’s
direct descendants
War Ongoing
• The war is still going
•Now more countries are involved
• The taliban still exists
• America is fighting there now
• Barack Obama has asked for
more troops to enter Afghanistan