Pak can't claim Gandhara civilisation: Afghan ex-Prez Karzai fact-checks Zardari
Afghanistan's former President Hamid Karzai has countered Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's claims on Gandhara civilisation, musical instrument rubab and folklores. Karzai presented proof to back his argument.
Pakistan, which is ludicrously trying to claim the mantle of a peacemaker after decades of exporting terror, was fact-checked on civilisational and cultural claims on Tuesday. Former Afghan President Hamdi Karzai refuted President Asif Ali Zardari's assertion that Pakistan had an exclusive claim to the Gandhara civilisation, musical instruments like rubab, and the Pashto folklore Adam Khan and Durkhanai.
Zardari's message on World Heritage Day, on April 18, was the trigger. In his message, Zardari asserted Pakistan's exclusive claims to civilisations, including the Gandhara civilisation, and a host of intangible cultural heritage like folklores, and musical instruments like the rubab, tabla, dholak, and chimta.
"Pakistan stands at the crossroads of some of the world's oldest civilisations. From the early Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods to the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, from the cultural richness of Mehrgarh, Moenjoydaro [Mohenjo Daro] and Ganddhara to the Mughal era, our land reflects a continuous taspestry of human creativity, innovation, and resilience," Zardari's message read.
The message even went on to lay claim to "the romances of Heer Ranjha and Sassi Mahliwal, Umar Marvi, Pushtun, Aadam Khan and Durkhani, Hazrat Shah Mureed, the poetry of Sufi saints and qawwali".
Hamid Karzai countered these claims, saying that the "civilisation of present-day northern India and Pakistan is considered a continuation of the civilisation of contemporary Afghanistan."
He said the Gandhara civilisation pertains to ancient Ariana, which encompasses the region from Bamiyan, which is in Afghanistan, to the Indus Valley.
The Gandhara civilisation was an ancient Indo-Aryan culture that flourished in parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were parts of the ancient Indian subcontinent. While its core lay outside of modern day India, it was a central part of ancient Indian empires like the Mauryan and Kushan dynasties.
The Gandhara civilisation lasted roughly from the mid-1st millennium BCE (around 600–500 BCE) to the early 2nd millennium CE, declining significantly after the spread of Islam. Gandhara civilisation is best known for its unique Greco-Buddhist art, which saw the first widespread depictions of the Buddha in human form.
Karzai emphasised that the rubab is Afghanistan's musical instrument and said, "The romantic tale of Adam Khan and Durkhani is our [Afghanistan] intangible cultural heritage."
In support of his rebuttal to Zardari's message, Karzai referred to a book named Melli Hindara. He also noted that "UNESCO has recognised the art of rubab-making as the cultural heritage of Afghanistan."
The confrontation over culture, history, and heritage comes even as Afghanistan and Pakistan have fought a bloody cross-border war in recent months. A fragile peace has returned with Beijing mediating in talks between Islamabad and Kabul.
Much of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India was part of an ancient civilisation and has a shared history. While Karzai said the Gandhara civilisation was spread across the subcontinent as part of Ariana, he has fact-checked Zardari on the rubab and the folklore of Adam Khan and Durkhanai, providing material evidence.
Pakistan, which is ludicrously trying to claim the mantle of a peacemaker after decades of exporting terror, was fact-checked on civilisational and cultural claims on Tuesday. Former Afghan President Hamdi Karzai refuted President Asif Ali Zardari's assertion that Pakistan had an exclusive claim to the Gandhara civilisation, musical instruments like rubab, and the Pashto folklore Adam Khan and Durkhanai.
Zardari's message on World Heritage Day, on April 18, was the trigger. In his message, Zardari asserted Pakistan's exclusive claims to civilisations, including the Gandhara civilisation, and a host of intangible cultural heritage like folklores, and musical instruments like the rubab, tabla, dholak, and chimta.
"Pakistan stands at the crossroads of some of the world's oldest civilisations. From the early Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods to the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, from the cultural richness of Mehrgarh, Moenjoydaro [Mohenjo Daro] and Ganddhara to the Mughal era, our land reflects a continuous taspestry of human creativity, innovation, and resilience," Zardari's message read.
The message even went on to lay claim to "the romances of Heer Ranjha and Sassi Mahliwal, Umar Marvi, Pushtun, Aadam Khan and Durkhani, Hazrat Shah Mureed, the poetry of Sufi saints and qawwali".
Hamid Karzai countered these claims, saying that the "civilisation of present-day northern India and Pakistan is considered a continuation of the civilisation of contemporary Afghanistan."
He said the Gandhara civilisation pertains to ancient Ariana, which encompasses the region from Bamiyan, which is in Afghanistan, to the Indus Valley.
The Gandhara civilisation was an ancient Indo-Aryan culture that flourished in parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were parts of the ancient Indian subcontinent. While its core lay outside of modern day India, it was a central part of ancient Indian empires like the Mauryan and Kushan dynasties.
The Gandhara civilisation lasted roughly from the mid-1st millennium BCE (around 600–500 BCE) to the early 2nd millennium CE, declining significantly after the spread of Islam. Gandhara civilisation is best known for its unique Greco-Buddhist art, which saw the first widespread depictions of the Buddha in human form.
Karzai emphasised that the rubab is Afghanistan's musical instrument and said, "The romantic tale of Adam Khan and Durkhani is our [Afghanistan] intangible cultural heritage."
In support of his rebuttal to Zardari's message, Karzai referred to a book named Melli Hindara. He also noted that "UNESCO has recognised the art of rubab-making as the cultural heritage of Afghanistan."
The confrontation over culture, history, and heritage comes even as Afghanistan and Pakistan have fought a bloody cross-border war in recent months. A fragile peace has returned with Beijing mediating in talks between Islamabad and Kabul.
Much of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India was part of an ancient civilisation and has a shared history. While Karzai said the Gandhara civilisation was spread across the subcontinent as part of Ariana, he has fact-checked Zardari on the rubab and the folklore of Adam Khan and Durkhanai, providing material evidence.
