Taliban takeover exposes largest Afghan ethnic group's surprising Israel link
Fearing reprisal from Islamists, members of the Pashtun ethnic group — many of whom helped former Afghan government — evoke historical theories tracing 15 million-strong community to 10 lost tribes of Israel, cite feeling strong connection to Israel, for which they may get killed
Many of the Pashtun have served in the Afghan National Army, and the last two Afghan presidents were Pashtun themselves.Some among the Pashtun believe the historic theories that suggest that the Pashtuns are decedents to the lost tribes of the Israelites, and even feel a connection to the Jewish state, Judaism and the theories about their Israelite origins.Israeli anthropologist Prof. Avigdor Shachan suggests that the lost tribes of Israel settled in Afghanistan after the Assyrian conquest of the land of Israel in 856–732 BCE.Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, life in the Afghan capital has become a challenge for many. Among those experiencing the difficulties of the takeover are many Pashtun, the country's largest ethnic group consisting of more than 15 million people.
While the Taliban themselves began as a Pashtun tribal movement, and still holds great power in the Pashtun’s cultural heartland in Afghanistan’s south today, not all members of the ethnicity sympathize with the country's new rulers.
Many of the Pashtun have served in the Afghan National Army, and the last two Afghan presidents were Pashtun themselves.
Some among the Pashtun believe the historic theories that suggest that the Pashtuns are decedents to the lost tribes of the Israelites, and even feel a connection to the Jewish state, Judaism and the theories about their Israelite origins.
Israeli anthropologist Prof. Avigdor Shachan suggests that the lost tribes of Israel settled in Afghanistan after the Assyrian conquest of the land of Israel in 856–732 BCE.Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, life in the Afghan capital has become a challenge for many. Among those experiencing the difficulties of the takeover are many Pashtun, the country's largest ethnic group consisting of more than 15 million people.
While the Taliban themselves began as a Pashtun tribal movement, and still holds great power in the Pashtun’s cultural heartland in Afghanistan’s south today, not all members of the ethnicity sympathize with the country's new rulers.
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