The Pashtun people are an ethno-linguistic group with populations
primarily in eastern and southern Afghanistan and in the North-West
Frontier Province, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan
provinces of Pakistan. The Pashtuns are typically characterized by
their Pashto language, adherence to Pashtunwali and Islam. Pashtuns
have survived a turbulent history over several centuries, during which
they have rarely been politically united. Pashtun martial prowess has
been renowned since Alexander the Great's invasion in the third
century BCE. Pashtuns played a pivotal role in the Soviet war in
Afghanistan, as many joined the Mujahideen. The Pashtuns gained
world-wide attention with the rise and fall of the Taliban, since they
were the main ethnic contingent in the movement. Modern Pashtuns have
been prominent in the rebuilding of Afghanistan where they are the
largest ethnic group and are an important community in Pakistan, where
they are the second-largest ethnic group. The Pashtuns are the world's
largest segmentary lineage tribal group. The total population of the
group is estimated to be at least 40 million, but an accurate count
remains elusive due to the nomadic nature of many tribes, the practice
of secluding women and the lack of an official census in Afghanistan
since 1979.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtun_people
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Today's selected anniversaries:
193:
Praetorian Guards assassinated Roman Emperor Pertinax and sold the
throne in an auction to Didius Julianus.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pertinax)
845:
Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, captured Paris and held
the city for a huge ransom.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Lodbrok)
1862:
American Civil War: An invasion of New Mexico Territory by the
Confederate States Army was halted in the Battle of Glorieta Pass.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Glorieta_Pass)
1979:
A nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
suffered a loss of coolant and a partial meltdown.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident)
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Wikiquote of the day:
We cannot know whether we love God, although there may be strong
reason for thinking so; but there can be no doubt about whether we
love our neighbor or not. Be sure that, in proportion as you advance
in fraternal charity, you are increasing your love of God... -- Teresa
of Avila
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Teresa_of_Avila)