The Intersection of the Public and the Private for Pashtun Women in Politics

Abstract

The genesis of this chapter was a series of cross-border dialogues that I designed and oversaw, between 2010 and 2011, in the Pashtun regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan for the US Institute of Peace. The dialogue participants reflected the different sectors of Pashtun society in these regions — traditional leaders (khans [feudal landlords] and maliks [chiefs]), religious leaders (there were different types, including mullahs, muftis, maulvis, maulanas and qazis), civil society leaders (NGOs, media, academics), local government officials and business people. The relatively small percentage of women who participated were mostly civil society leaders, and primarily NGO leaders, as these were the sectors providing the most space for women. It must be noted that government is also increasingly, if slowly, providing space for women in both countries.