Author Information
Yuri Alan Maciel Tesch, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, BrazilAbstract
The Pashtunistan question constitutes one of the most enduring legacies of colonial boundary-making in South Asia. Originating from the imposition of the Durand Line in 1893, which divided Pashtun communities between Afghanistan and British India, the issue intensified following the creation of Pakistan in 1947. This article examines how Afghan, Pakistani, and British newspapers represented the Pashtunistan dispute during the period of heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan from 1960 to 1962. Drawing upon discourse analysis and the theoretical contributions of Anthony D. Smith, Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah, Reinhart Koselleck, Patrick Charaudeau, and Michel Pêcheux, the study compares reports published in The Kabul Times, The Pakistan Observer, The Dawn, and The Guardian. The findings demonstrate that each newspaper constructed distinct narratives concerning identity, sovereignty, territorial legitimacy, and self-determination. While The Kabul Times portrayed Pashtun nationalism as a legitimate anti-colonial struggle, Pakistani newspapers emphasized territorial integrity and national unity. The Guardian, meanwhile, reproduced elements of colonial and orientalist discourse in its representations of Afghanistan and the Pashtuns. By comparing these competing narratives, the article contributes to broader debates on nationalism, colonial legacies, media discourse, and identity formation in South Asia during the Cold War.
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress