Srinagar: Tucked deep into the foothills of south Kashmir, in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the twin villages of Cheki- Isherdas and Wantrag sit along a narrow irrigation canal, surrounded by terraced fields, winter vegetable patches, and groves of walnut and apple trees.
According to Global Mirror, Bashir Ahmad Pakhtoon (70), a retired teacher and Pashto activist, wrapped in a traditional Pathani outfit with a woollen chadar over his shoulders, said: “Our village still carries a Pashtun imprint.” says. “Our language, food and customs distinguish us even today.” Home to nearly 600 Pashtun households, the villages form a rare enclave of Afghan-origin tribal culture in Islamabad district.
Pashtun settlements also exist in other parts of Kashmir, including Gutlibagh- Ganderbal, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Pulwama. Wantrag, however, remains one of the few places where Pashto language and customs are still prominently visible. The road to Wantrag climbs a hill about 15 kilometres from Islamabad town, cutting through apple orchards.
According to Global Mirror, Bashir Ahmad Pakhtoon (70), a retired teacher and Pashto activist, wrapped in a traditional Pathani outfit with a woollen chadar over his shoulders, said: “Our village still carries a Pashtun imprint.” says. “Our language, food and customs distinguish us even today.” Home to nearly 600 Pashtun households, the villages form a rare enclave of Afghan-origin tribal culture in Islamabad district.
Pashtun settlements also exist in other parts of Kashmir, including Gutlibagh- Ganderbal, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Pulwama. Wantrag, however, remains one of the few places where Pashto language and customs are still prominently visible. The road to Wantrag climbs a hill about 15 kilometres from Islamabad town, cutting through apple orchards.