The Arab world and Islam, predominantly Sunni, hold a significant position in global politics, media, and academia. However, it’s essential not to overshadow the importance of the Shia/Persian-speaking realm amidst events like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and 9/11. Iran and Shia/Persian culture have shaped history across Iraq, Pakistan, and Central Asia, with Iran emerging as a central player in Middle East politics, surpassing Egypt as the primary anti-Israeli force.
It’s pertinent to complement the traditional view of the Arab-Muslim world with that of a Persian-speaking/Shiite “arc.” This article aims to break free from Western diplomatic thought patterns that lack mental frameworks for key countries/people in international politics: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kurds.
While acknowledging internal diversity in these vast regions, it’s crucial to highlight commonalities and differences among key nations/peoples such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kurds.
Future articles will explore cultural and historical aspects beyond the prevalent “security” and “military” perspectives dominating Western and global media.
a) Where “Iranian languages” are spoken? Persian (Farsi) extends beyond Iran into Iraq, significantly impacting the Persian-speaking presence in the region. Persian is Iran’s primary language, with dialectal variations in cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
Kurdish languages, part of the north-western Iranian branch, are spoken by the Kurdish people in Kurdistan, spanning parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Afghanistan uses Persian (known as Dari) alongside Pashto as official languages.
Pashto, spoken by the Pashtun community in Pakistan, is one of the country’s largest ethnic groups. It is prominent in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, with cities like Peshawar and Quetta having sizable Pashtun populations.
b) Alphabet used and number of speakers. Persian, Pashto, and Dari use the Persian alphabet derived from Arabic. Approximately 80 million speak Persian in Iran, 20 million speak Dari in Afghanistan, and millions speak Pashto in Pakistan.
c) Causes of its spread: Historical, cultural, and political factors, including the Safavid and Moghol Empires, cultural exchanges, historical conquests, and religious ties, have influenced the spread of the Persian language. Persian diaspora communities have also contributed to maintaining and spreading the language globally.