The Pakhtuns have expressed their extreme concerns over exhibition of book ‘Poetry of Talibans’ in a three-day Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) and claimed the book leaves impression as Talibans are leaders of Pakhtuns, Pakistan Today has learnt on Sunday. The festival was attended by representatives of at least nine countries.
The book has been written by ex-commander of British forces in Afghanistan and an Urdu version of the book was placed in the literary festival. It was brought under discussion in a political session ‘Deadline Afghanistan’ which was moderated by Najam Sethi along with ex-diplomat Ilyas Muhammad Khan, Zahid Hussain and New York Times correspondent in Pakistan Declan Walsh.
Department of International Relations Chairman, Peshawar University, Ijaz Khan, said the author had tried to convey the message that Talibans are leaders of Pakhtuns but the fact is other way round. The book can help in reading mind, thinking, life and point of view of Taliban but it would be wrong to impose this book on Pakhtuns,” he added.
“The book depicts culture of Afghan Taliban and it has very limited portion of Pakistan-based Talibans but the author has tried to deliver a message that Talibans are representative of Pakhtuns living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and tribal areas”, he said, adding “there is difference in Taliban belonging to KP and Punjab despite the fact that their direction and commitments are same.”
“If any outsider reads this book, he/she assumes Talibans as operative of Pakhtuns which is a great injustice. The KLF invited Najam Sethi for discussion on poetry of Taliban who is a non-Pakhtun. No doubt Najam Sethi has deep insight into Afghan issues but how it is possible that a non-Pakhtun could discuss Pakhtun literature”, he questioned.
Ali Arqum, a Paktun journalist, told Pakistan Today that KLF invited representatives of establishment for discussion in a political session ‘Deadline Afghanistan’ wherein poetry of Talibans was discussed. “I attended the three-day KLF and it was tried to make people think that Talibans are leaders of Pakhtuns,” he alleged.
“How it is possible that a non-Pakhtun discusses Pakhtun literature,” he questioned. “Can Declan Walsh, a New York Times correspondent, interpret Pakhtun culture?” he argued.
