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Brigadier Haroon has discussed this theory in great detail, having compressed the outcome of his scholarly but winding discussion in two sentences under sub-heading Presumption and Pretension of the "Introduction" as: "Besides their illustrious history, they (Pukhtuns) are remarkable in other respects. Amongst which is their pretended origin from the Jews, and the multitude tribes and clans, which, according to historians, number about three hundred and fifty-nine; some of which bear a great
resemblance to the ancient Indians and afford much matter for reflection." (p.5)
The other camp refers to the migration in waves of the Aryan tribes from the Central Asia until the last wave of migration of the Saka tribe around 1500 BC. Some groups of Aryans moved west-ward and some south-ward. The Saka gained universal importance for compilation of four collections of Vedas (knowledge in Sanskrit). These collections are called the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Yajur-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Rig-Veda contains more than 1000 hymns (rigs in Sanskrit), composed in various poetic meters and arranged in ten books.[i] Researchers refer to
some of these hymns that narrate encounters with ten native tribes the Saka had experienced.
With regard to this theory, Brigadier Haroon says: "At the turn of the eleventh and twelfth century BC, according to the records of the Rig Veda, the country inhabited by the Aryans was called 'Saptasindhu', the country of seven rivers. This country can be identified and localised by the names of the rivers referred to in the Rig Veda, the 'Kubha' (Kabul), the 'Suwastu' (Swat), the 'Kurmu' (Kurram), the 'Gomati' (Gomal), the 'Sindhu' (Indus), the 'Vipas" (Beas) and the 'Ganga' (Ganges)'. With
reference to Irtiqa by Dr. Khudaidad (April 1990), the author has added the following note (No. 2) at the foot (p.9):
A battle was fought between the Aryans already settled in 'Saptasindhu' and the new arriving Aryan clans. Ten clans, namely Alniya, Pakhat, Bhalona, Shiva, Vishanian, Anviya, Huya, Torvasa, Yadu and Poro took part in the Dard battle. Out of these clans, Alniya are the present Kalash, Bhalana were then settled in the Bolan Pass, Shiva in and around Kabul city and Poru on the banks of the Indus and in Gandhara. The Pakhat (Paktues) occupied Ariana (Eastern Afghanistan) and major portion of Gandhara. Their area was then known as Pactica. The clan was further sub-divided into Gandhari, Aparytae, Satragydae and Dadicae sub-clans.
As regard the Saka, the author says: "Sakas have been identified as Iranian tribes of the north-eastern group that began to penetrate into Indus Valley by about one thousand years BC" (p.9).
"The history of the land", covering a period of over six thousand years, has been condensed in Chapter 1 and 2 on sixteen pages only before the "Appearance of the Afghans in the area" (Chapter 3), which covers hardly two pages.
Chapter 4 turns to the "Genealogy of the Pathans" starting with definition of the term "Pathan". In this chapter, the author has discussed various terms, i.e. Afghan, al-Afghaniatu, Avgan, Aghvana or Aghvai, Suleimani, Bani Asif, Bani Israel, Bani Afaghena, Pathans. Pakhtun, Rohilla applied to the target group of people. I think that the term Pathan is neither Pashto nor Persian but Hindi and, as the author puts in, is popularly applied to the members of any tribe hailing from Afghanistan and the NWFP of Pakistan (p.29). Another point of consideration is that all these names and terms had been coined and used by alien writers.
Chapter 5 and 6 discuss "The Afghans" and "The Pathans" respectively. Chapter 7, captioned "Analysis", opens up as: "It is now time, to pause for a moment and, in the background explained in the previous chapters, ponder whether the theories propounded by various scholars and genealogists about the derivation of the name 'Afghan' and of their genealogy are viable or otherwise. All historians who have studied them have felt the difficulty about this point." In this chapter, the author has
extended discussion to some other theories, linking the origin of Pukhtuns to Copts, Jews, Klaproth, Turk or Mughal, Clairant etc.
Chapter 8 revisits the "Legendary Lineage of the Pathans" with particular reference to Makhzan-e-Afghani, "which is regarded an authority on the Pathan genealogy." In fact, most of the anomalies in this regard have emanated from this book.
The author of Makhzan-e-Afghani, Khwaja Niamatullah son of Habibullah Heravi, lived obscure life before he came to limelight as the Chief Conservator of the library of Sipah Salar Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khanan (993-1006 H). Then, he joined the retinue of Prince Saleem. In 1014 H, when the prince ascended the throne and adopted the title of Jehangir, he appointed Niamat as the court-chronicler. In 1017 H, Emperor Jehangir removed him from the service for some misdemeanour. Then he joined the service of an Afghan Amir Mian Pir Khan alias Khan Jehan Lodhi. Encouraged by his master, Niamat commenced compilation of the book at Malakpur (Deccan) on 20 Zilhaj 1020 and concluded it at Burhanpur on 10 Zilhaj 1021 H. It is presumed that the events, after his death, were added to his work by someone(s) else.
Makhzan-e-Afghani carries genealogy of the mankind from Adam to Jacob, also giving ages of some Prophets in the line. Haroon Rashid has noted: "According to Majmu-ul-Ansab as quoted by H. W. Bellew, Qais in lineal descent was thirty-seventh from Malik Talut, or Saul, forty-fifth from Hazrat Ibrahim or Abraham and sixty-third from Hazrat Adam" (p.70).
This lineage can cover not more than ten thousand years, whereas a large number of fossil bones and teeth have been found at various places throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. Tools of stone, bone, and wood, as well as fire hearths, campsites and burials, also, have been discovered and excavated. These discoveries draw a picture of human evolution during the past 4 to 5 million years.[ii]
Niamat Heravi extended this genealogy to Qais Abdur Rashid and his descendants, but there is no mention of any other person of that age and his descendants. It may be noted that Pukhtuns claiming descent from Qais Abdur Rashid have crossed the twenty million mark in number around the world. The total populations of descendants from other people of that age would naturally exceed several times the population of the world.
Most of the scholars took similar line and still a number of writers rely on that theory. They have given little attention to primary sources to find the fact. This genealogy has been taken from the Old Testament, which was compiled by Jews' rabbis and scholars after 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar II conquered and destroyed Jerusalem, consigning its inhabitants to captivity.[iii] He tried to destroy the whole structure of
their culture, having burnt their literatures including the original Torah.
Haroon Rashid has repudiated this theory by the end of the 9th Chapter in these words: "In fact, nothing but the ancient traditions - exaggerated and, with the lapse of ages, adulterated and distorted by fiction, but nevertheless, all telling the same table and pointing to the same source, is the ground on which the Pathans claim Israelite descent." (p.74)
Volume One of the work, which is this volume, discusses at length evolution of tribal structure, the Sarbani tribes and clans, their division in political factions, religion , language and the history.
The tribesmen still maintain genealogies of their tribes and clans, but the nation can't. The nation is now defined as: (a) a community of people or peoples who live in a defined territory and are organized under a single government, (b) a community of people who share a common ethnic origin, culture, historical tradition, and, frequently, language, whether or not they live together in one territory or have their own government [iv] Pukhtuns now form a nation that shares a common ethnic origin.
Ahmad Shah Abdali founded the Afghan Empire in 1747, which was the second great power to the Turkish Empire of the time[v]. Ahmad Shah had appointed Mahmood-ul-Hussain Herati as a munshi (secretary) to write annals of the time. He compiled Tareekh-e-Ahmad Shahi in Persian. Its copy in two volumes is in the library of the Area Study Centre, Peshawar University. Encouraged by Ahmad Shah, Hafiz of Marghuz composed Shahnama-e-Ahmadia in masnavi form (couplet-poem). It is available in the library of Pushto Academy, Peshawar University. The poet has not used his name anywhere in the Shahnama. The history of Mahmood-ul-Hussain al-Munshi shows that after the assassination of Nadir Shah, Ahmad Shah assimilated
the scattered Pakhtun soldiers under his command and marched to Kandahar. On the way, he had repulsed at least four attacks up to Grishik.
From there, he sent a few emissaries to Kandahar to broach the news of the assassination of Nadir Shah and his march to Kandahar as the victor.
The Shahnama has also not mentioned any Jirgah to elect Ahmad Shah as the ruler.