World Pashto Conference 2009,Kabul Afghanistan

World Pashto Conference sets new trends

By Rashid Khattak

GATHERED in the historical tent of Loya Jirga in Kabul, where Afghans decided to form an interim government in June 2002 after the fall of Taliban, Pakhtun writers, poets and academicians were worried about the problems faced by them in the promotion of their language and culture. They had come from different parts of the globe, including Pakistan, India, Canada, Gulf States and Europe, to participate in the World Pashto Conference that was being held for the first time in Kabul.
The organizers, the Jirga of Afghan Cultural Societies, and participants of the conference were so concerned about the hurdles and problems that they didn’t follow the routine procedure, set for such gatherings. The only formalities were recitation of Holy Qur’an, message of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, read out by Afghanistan Information Minister Abdul Karim Khurram and message of NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti.
Instead of following the clichéd procedure of delivering long speeches and reading lengthy papers, the participants of the conference were divided in four groups to discuss problems, reasons and possible solutions in the fields of language, culture and education. A fourth group was specified to discuss that how Pakhtuns living in different countries of the world could be connected with each other through an international network.
After thorough deliberations for two days the participants came with solid suggestions to solve the problems and remove the hurdles that hamper promotion of Pashto language and Pakhtun culture.
They decided to set up an international network to connect different organizations, societies and literary councils, working for the promotion of Pashto language and culture in different countries of the world. Kabul was selected as centre for the network.
They demanded of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to realize their responsibilities in the promotion of Pashto language and remove the hurdles faced by Pakhtuns.
Likewise, they urged Pakhtun intellectuals, nationalist and spiritual leaders to do joint efforts for the solution of problems faced by Pakhtun nation and Pashto language. They sought legal, material and moral support for Pashto writers from all quarters concerned.
They asked the Afghan government to implement the clause of constitution, which recognized Pashto as medium of education and official language.
They also demanded of the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan to protect the rights of Pashto as a medium of education. The participants of the conference demanded of the elements involved in torching educational institutions to end their sabotage acts, which could not be justified according to any religion and ideology, and let the Pakhtun children get education. They also urged the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan and international community to protect the basic right of Pakhtun children of getting education through any mean.
The participants of the conference also pointed out some harmful customs in Pakhtun society and suggested practical steps for promotion of culture. They decided to hold such conferences every year as it was not an end rather a beginning.
Led by prominent publisher Asadullah Danish Safi, about 80 out of total 800 members of the working groups of the conference were from Pakhtun areas of Pakistan. Prominent among them were Rehmat Shah Sail, Nurul Bashar Naveed, Tahir Afridi, M.R. Shafaq, Ghazi Sial, Mehboob Bacha, Akmal Lewanay and Umer Daraz Marwat.
The guest writers appreciated the new trend of holding group discussions and workshops instead of paper reading and speeches. They said that the trend was absolutely new but more useful than the clichéd style of such conferences.
“They warm welcome by the writers and officials of Afghanistan enable us to bear the cold weather of Kabul,” said one of them. Another guest from NWFP appreciated the musical programmes and poetry recitation sessions, organized at nights after the hectic day-long activity of the conference. However, the real recreation and relaxing session of poetry and music was arranged in Nangarhar for guest poets at the end of conference by Council of Eastern Writers and Journalists, headed by Lal Bacha Azmoon.

Note:-This Article was published in daily Dawn,Islamabad on October 13,2009.