The Pashtun people and political, intellectual, and cultural circles in various nations, including Pakistan, celebrate September 23 as “Pashtun Culture Day”. Seminars, conferences, and musical events are planned to commemorate this day and show love and fresh allegiance to one’s homeland, language, and culture.
This year, too, celebrations and events took place in many regions and towns across Pakistan. The largest event was held in Karachi, organized by ANP Sindh. Senator Aimal Wali Khan, the party’s central president and the event’s primary guest, stated that there was an intentional attempt to ruin the image of Pashtuns and create a global narrative labeling this peace-loving nation as extremist, which is completely untrue and one-sided. He expressed concern about the ongoing wave of violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, saying the situation has significantly affected the people politically, mentally, and economically, and that everyone must play their respective duties to put an end to the unrest.
Apart from some other leaders, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also greeted all Pashtuns on the occasion of this day in a formal statement.
There is no doubt that Pashtuns make up a sizable proportion of the population in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and they have played an essential part in the development of numerous Pakistani towns and provinces, notably Karachi and Islamabad. However, the Pashtun community is also suffering numerous hardships. Following the Taliban conquest of Afghanistan, political and cultural activities have been restricted, resulting in suffocation for a substantial portion of the people. In such a situation, all stakeholders must devote special attention to the preservation and development of Pashtun culture and language to obstruct attempts to distort the history of this troubled nation and confront the threats to its image.