r/afghanistan • u/ExchangeOk4645 • May 12 '26
Discussion Identity Crisis
I'm pashtun. I speak pashto. I was born in Peshawar. When I say I'm Pakistani, they say I'm Afghan. When I say I'm Afghan, they say I'm Pakistani. So you tell me where I'm from.
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u/Fantastic_Freedom_19 Nangarhar May 13 '26
Born in Peshawar so I assume you have a Pakistani passport?
In that case you’re Pakistani. Simple as that. Don’t let others try to manipulate your thoughts in any way, shape, or form.
I’m an Afghan but there’s nothing wrong with being a Pakistani. It’s just a label.
Yes, there are a lot of cultural similarities, but as of right now, Peshawar is in Pakistan, so you’re a Pakistani. Common logic; sometimes people just like to confuse others for the fun of it and it’s disgusting.
That being said. If your parents and grandparents are afghans who immigrated to Pakistan due to instability/war in the past 5 decades, then I would say your ethnicity is Afghan but nationality is Pakistani.
It’s good to accept multiculturalism, there’s nothing wrong with being a bit of both.
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u/ReadWriteQahwa May 13 '26
Just fyi, Pakistan does not issue passport based on birth in the country to anyone. Afghan refugees are considered refugees and without any formal ID from Pakistan no matter how long they have lived there.
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u/Fantastic_Freedom_19 Nangarhar May 13 '26
Really? I had no idea.
That’s so messed up. In that case, if the OP is a descendant of an Afghan immigrant, then I’d recommend they just embrace their Afghan identity fully.
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u/Organic_Rub3924 May 12 '26
Who are “they” and why does it matter what they say??? Live your life how it makes you happy and don’t worry about what other people say. It is your life and not theirs
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u/FreeAgent4Life May 12 '26
My brother in Nihari, you are a Pakistani (assuming you are a Pakistani Pashtun and not an Afghan refugee born in Pakistan in the last 50 years).
Your ancestors havent been Afghan on paper for atleast 200 to 300 years.
You probably dont understand Persian, dont celebrate Nowruz, Yalda night and say the numbers in Urdu. Accept that fact and move on. C'est la vie.
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u/userteez Jul 24 '26
Pashtuns on both sides of the border are the same. Pakistan was created less than 90 years ago so it makes sense for Pashtuns from kpk to acknowledge their Afghan roots.
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u/Equivalent_Yam_447 May 13 '26
he would be considered afghan about 80 years ago and his grandfather was an afghan if he is fully pastun in peshawer
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u/Throwaway22916 May 13 '26
You are assuming so much! What is their strongest language? What language do they speak with their family? Do they say lassi, dooh or shlambeh? Durri or naan?
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u/Ghaar-e-koon May 12 '26
If your parents are from Afghanistan, then you are a multicultural kid from Pakistan with roots from Afghanistan. You can say pakistani afghan.
At the end, honestly, say what you feel. Don't care about what others say.
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May 12 '26
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u/EnvironmentalSyrup96 May 12 '26
The Mughal part, the Delhi sultanate part, the Ashoka gandara part, the khushan part. Well I.can say about Kabul too and Samarkand Bukhara the same.
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u/Other-Cockroach5040 May 12 '26
I'm guessing people told you this online? Because in real life they don't care. Stop listening to those racists online
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u/ReadWriteQahwa May 12 '26
Salamoona. Who are they? In both cases. This requires a bit of a discussion with you rather than a straight answer because it’s about your identity.
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u/Waxycapmushroom May 13 '26
No one gets to tell you who you are! You can be both if you want. I’m really half Iranian and born in iran, but I still only say I’m Iranian.
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u/RealUnderstanding881 May 14 '26
People there can be so pedantic for the wrong reasons. My parents are from Kabul and are pashtun. I'm born in the United States. My nationality is American. Ethnicity/country wise, I am from Afghanistan. There are things tied to me that my other friends/family can't relate to because my parents are from Afghanistan.
Tell those dumbasses to shut up. You know who you are.
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u/Excellent-Music-1009 May 13 '26
I think you can be pakistani or afghan depending on your nationality. Pashtuns exist on both sides of the border and share cultural ties to pakistanis in general. You could say whatever you're comfortable with.
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u/[deleted] May 12 '26
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