Pakistan has sparked controversy by naming its missiles after historic Afghan figures. This action, which includes using names like Shihab al-Din Ghori, Mahmud of Ghazni, and Ahmad Shah Abdali, has triggered negative reactions among Afghans.
Noor Wodjouatt Founder and director of Zarin TV Network published an article condemning this action, stating in part that “Using these names on weapons of war is not a tribute—it’s cultural appropriation. For many Afghans, this action amounts to psychological warfare: a deliberate attempt to change the meaning of their heroes and incorporate them into Pakistan’s military narrative.”
These tensions are rooted in the region’s colonial history. Afghanistan existed as an independent entity centuries before Pakistan was formed, while Pakistan resulted from Britain’s partition of India in 1947. Wojoohat adds: “At a time when the region needs peace, such symbolic actions only foster mistrust.”
When History Becomes a Weapon: Pakistan Names Missiles After Afghan Heroes
