In order to understand the conflict between Hazara and Pashtun, it is important not note that they are two different ethnic groups that inhabit Afghanistan. As such, the conflict between these two ethnic groups has been continuing since shortly after the founding of Afghanistan in 1747. Traditionally, Hazaras occupied the lower niche of the class while Pashtun were the dominant upper class and, they were involved in controlling the country’s government (Ciment 692). The main conflict between Hazara and Pashtun people is their ethnic differences.

Hazara people comprise small ethnic group that is estimated to be 10 to 15 percent of the entire population in Afghanistan. Most of the hazara people are identifiable because they belong to the Shiite sect, which is a minority sect among the Islam population. In addition, Hazaras are regarded to be Persian speaking and they live in central Afghanistan. They are easy to identify because they resemble Asians and they have cultural backgrounds that are similar to the Mongolians of Eastern Asia (Ciment 693).

On the other hand, Pashtun are the majority of people living in Afghanistan and they take almost half of the region’s population. Different from Hazaras, most of them are Sunni Islam, which forms the biggest religion in Afghanistan. The Pashtun culture is based on the traditional code Pashtunwali, which dictates how every individual is supposed to behave in the society. As a result, according to Pashtunwali code, the tradition and the cultures of Pashtun people is supposed to be in accordance with Muslim religion where they worship only one God-Allah. Pashtun people have strong organizations which control the government and the Talibans. Furthermore, they are a herd community and therefore, they are nomads who move from one place to another in search of pasture and water for their animals. All these characteristics make Pashtun people extend their ruling territories to the extent that they invade the boundaries of the Hazara people (Ciment 694).

The conflict still goes on since Hazara people are also willing to fight for their rights, for example, from history, some of them were killed and others were sold as slaves. Until today, Pashtun people show no mercy to the Hazara people and they constantly attack them through Talibans who also belong to the Pashtun community. Pashtun and Hazara people hate each other because of their ethnic differences, which explain why they have been fighting each other over resources, land, religion, and culture and government power. The only way the Hazara people have tried to level their difference against Pashtun is through education. Being the tribe that is at the bottom of the class system, Hazaras have been taking their children to schools so as to ensure that they have a good feature that is free from insecurity and violence instigated by Pashtun people. Although it is not common in Afghanistan, Hazara people have also been taking their girls to schools; as a result, the government (Pashtun people) has not been happy about it. The government has always been considered Hazara people as outcasts who should not have any benefits in Afghanistan. However, some of the young high scholars from Hazara community have managed to join colleges and secured jobs that are well paying. As a result, this newest form of liberation for Hazara people has not been taken well by Pashtun people. Their hatred for Hazaras transcends any efforts geared towards empowering the Hazara community; as a result, it is seemingly predictable the conflict may not end sooner (Ciment 695).

Works Cited

Ciment, James. Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II. New York, NY: Routledge, 2015. Print.