Rejecting the 'Martial Race' Stereotype
Dr. Zeb Khan, who holds a PhD in Administrative Sciences and teaches at the University of Plymouth in the UK, argues that Pathans should reject the stereotypes of being "exceptionally brave" and "exceptionally devout Muslims." In an opinion piece published by The Express Tribune on October 17, 2026, Khan contends that courage is not encoded in Pakhtun blood and that no ethnicity holds a monopoly over religious devotion.
Khan writes that while brave people and sincere believers exist in every society, the persistent labeling of Pathans as exceptional requires scrutiny. He suggests that for generations, these compliments should have been met with suspicion rather than acceptance.
Colonial Origins and State Perceptions
The writer traces the origins of the Pakhtun warrior stereotype to colonial representations, which routinely portrayed frontier Pathans as warriors, violent tribesmen, and members of a "martial race." According to Khan, academic research indicates that these ideas outlived colonialism and continued to influence state perceptions of tribal areas.
Khan notes that the stereotype did not begin with the Afghan jihad but was reinforced by it. He points to historical records showing that by 1979, rebellion was already under way against Afghanistan's communist government. Declassified American records indicate that Pakistan supported Afghan insurgents before the Soviet invasion in December 1979.
Following the Soviet invasion, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan built a covert pipeline of money and weapons for the Afghan resistance through Pakistan. During the rule of General Zia-ul-Haq, state Islamisation became deeply intertwined with the Afghan jihad.
The Impact on Pakhtun Regions
Khan highlights the long-term consequences of these geopolitical shifts on Pakhtun areas. UNHCR records indicate that the refugee population in Pakistan and Iran reached around six million during the 1980s. The article notes that Swat, Waziristan, Bajaur, and other Pakhtun areas have repeatedly become theatres of conflict over nearly half a century.
Khan suggests that Pathans should demand the right to be ordinary. He argues for the priority of sending children to school rather than ideological battlefields, moving away from the historical narrative of exceptionalism that has defined their region for decades.