Books کتاب ها
A library of books containing Pazhwak's writings and ideas published so far by Pazhwak Foundation. These online publications are made available free of charge. Limited printed copies are available in bookstores in Afghanistan or can be ordered online.
Here is a link for ordering a few of the more recent published books:
If you wish to support our mission by making a small donation or providing feedback, please click on the Support button. Pazhwak Foundation is a Virginia-based non-profit with the mission to preserve, explore and share the Pazhwak Spirit with audiences inside and outside of Afghanistan. You can order a printed copy of books online via hhtp://www.lulu.com. Thank you!!
فهرست پی دی اف کتاب هایکه توسط بنیاد پژواک تا حال نشر شده اند. میتوانید بالای پوش کتاب کلک کنید تا بدنه ای کتاب برای مطالعه و یا دوون لود بازشود. آین آثار در بعضی کتابخانه ها، پوهنتون ها و کتابفروشی ها در افغانستان پیدا شده میتواند. همچنان ان لاین از طریق چاپخانهٔ لولو بعضی از این کتاب ها را فرمایش داده میتوانید. تشکر
A BRIEF MEMOIR OF AN AFGHAN REFUGEE
This brief memoir, originally written in Dari between 1989 and 1990 while Pazhwak was living in exile in Washington, D.C., offers an important and insightful glimpse into his life and work. Published in collaboration with TKG in Kabul in 2014, the book traces key moments of Pazhwak’s personal and political journey. It brings together political highlights, significant published articles, a biographical sketch, a catalog of both published and unpublished works, and a small but meaningful selection of his poems and quotes—elements that collectively illuminate his ideas, struggles, and enduring legacy.
%20(1).jpg)
A BRIEF MEMOIR OF AN AFGHAN REFUGEE
The Pashto translation of Pazhwak’s memoir was republished in 2024 under the new title Son of Afghanistan in Kabul by the Pazhwak Foundation, in collaboration with TLO. Originally written during Pazhwak’s exile in Washington in the 1980s—at the urging of his eldest grandson, Farhad Pazhwak—the memoir is enriched in this edition with a collection of his Pashto poems and articles that further illuminate his life, ideas, and struggles. The Pazhwak Foundation extends its gratitude to Afghan scholars, family members, and friends for their continued support, with special acknowledgment to Dr. Ghafoor Liwal for his editorial contributions and to Mr. Hemat Omarzoy for the translation.
AFSANA-HA-I MARDOM / PPEOPLE'S STORIES
This volume brings together a collection of engaging Afghan folkloric short stories, researched, compiled, and authored by Abdur Rahman Pazhwak during the 1940s in his early career. First published in Afghanistan in the 1950s, the work was republished in 2017 by the Pazhwak Foundation in collaboration with the Sanayee Development Organization.
Culturally significant and deeply enjoyable, the book reflects Pazhwak’s enduring passion for preserving and promoting Afghanistan’s folkloric heritage. The stories not only provide vivid insights into Afghan life and worldview but also capture the values, customs, and moral codes that have shaped Afghan society. At the same time, they embody the country’s long tradition of storytelling, linking ancient oral practices to modern literary preservation.
NAHID NAMA /ناهید نامه
This epic poem was composed by Ustad Pazhwak in the wake of street protests that erupted in Kabul against the Soviet invasion and the Communist regime. Girls’ high schools in the city took a leading role in these demonstrations, which were brutally suppressed by the Afghan army loyal to the regime. Among them was Nahid, a high school senior, who defiantly handed her scarf to the soldiers, taunting them to wear it, and demanded their guns to fight the invaders of her homeland. She and her classmates were gunned down on the spot. Despite his frail health, Ustad Pazhwak began writing this volume, dedicating it to all Afghan girls and women who stood in resistance against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
KALIMA DARIE RUPEE
This unique short story, written in Pashto and first published in 1947 by the Pashto Academy, stands as an important contribution to Afghan literature. The edition available today is a scanned version of the original, republished by the Pazhwak Foundation as an eBook in 2022.
Masterfully crafted, the story illuminates the principles of Pashtunwali and highlights the legendary bravery and patriotism of the Pashtuns, particularly in moments of resistance against foreign invasion. Centered on the dialogue between a Pashtun tribesman and his wife following the British invasion of Afghanistan, the narrative is both intimate and symbolic. Notably, the work represents a literary innovation in Pashto, as it is written in the form of a play—a style that invites the hope that one day it will be performed on stage.
UNBROKEN DIAMOND
Unbroken Diamond originated as a poem written in the mid-1980s by American poet William Pitt Root in solidarity with the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invasion. Abdur Rahman Pazhwak translated the poem from English into Dari and, in turn, composed a poetic response in Dari. That response was later translated into English by his grandson, Farhad Pazhwak. More recently, both poems have also been translated into Pashto.
The volume thus presents a rare poetic dialogue across languages and cultures. It weaves together voices from East and West, united by shared ideals of freedom and justice at a time of immense hardship for Afghanistan.
This short but powerful book not only preserves an important moment of literary and political exchange but also affirms poetry’s role in resistance and solidarity. The Pazhwak Foundation is committed to updating and republishing this booklet so that new audiences may engage with its enduring message.
A WOMAN
A Woman was first published as a booklet in 2002. It includes an introduction in both Dari and English, the original Dari text of the story, and its English translation by Farhad Pazhwak. The Pazhwak Foundation plans to update and republish this booklet in early 2026.
The story centers on an Afghan country woman whose struggle to resist the coercive desires of a brutal village khan reflects the darker, oppressive aspects of traditional culture. At the same time, her voice embodies the innate, God-given human right to individual freedom and choice.
This short but compelling narrative highlights Pazhwak’s sensitivity to both the suffering and resilience of Afghan women. By presenting the story in bilingual form, the work speaks across cultures, affirming its continued relevance as a testimony to the universal quest for dignity and self-determination.
AFGHAN NATIONALISM IN THE SPAN OF HISTORY
نا سیونالیزم افغان در پهنای تاریخ
پوهاند فضل ربی پژواک
“Afghan Nationalism Across History” is a collection of lecture notes by the late Professor Fazl Rabee Pazhwak. He began drafting these notes as an independent written work in September 1968 (Solar Hijri 1347), and finally completed a typed version in 1973 (Solar Hijri 1352).
Unfortunately, due to the prevailing conditions in the country, the Soviet military invasion, and the untimely death of Professor Pazhwak in November 1987 (Solar Hijri 1366), this work was prevented from being published.
We are grateful that Dr. Saidal Pazhwak, one of Professor Pazhwak's sons living in Kabul, recovered a copy of the book despite the hardships of the times and the plundering of the nation’s material and spiritual treasures over decades of war, and managed to publish this book in Kabul with a sense of national responsibility and moral commitment. Pazhwak Foundation is proud to share this copy in full academic integrity.
GENEVA TALKS
This volume is a scanned collection of Abdur Rahman Pazhwak’s articles, originally published in the 1980s by the Afghan Mujahid Information Center in Peshawar under the editorship of the late Hassan Wolesmal. The articles first appeared in the Mujahid Woles newspaper and were later compiled into book form.
The writings capture Pazhwak’s critical stance against the Geneva Talks, which he argued deprived Afghanistan and its people of their right to self-determination. In these articles, he presented an alternative framework for ending the war, one that emphasized inclusive representation and cautioned against the dangers of both favoritism and the rise of religious radicalism in a post-war Afghanistan without legitimate political leadership.
This collection remains an invaluable historical document, preserving the voice of a statesman who foresaw the risks of flawed negotiations and unbalanced governance. By revisiting these writings today, readers gain not only insight into Afghanistan’s political dilemmas of the 1980s but also a deeper appreciation for Pazhwak’s enduring commitment to principled leadership and national sovereignty.
BANO-E BALKH
This selection of Pazhwak’s poetry was originally published in the 1990s and includes not only a rich collection of poems but also an extensive biography and an analysis of Pazhwak’s spirit and ideals. The volume was compiled and edited by the late Atiqullah Pazhwak, Ustad Pazhwak’s younger brother and a respected scholar in his own right, with selections of poems and references provided by Farhad Pazhwak. The Pazhwak Foundation republished the book in Kabul in 2025, with one thousand copies printed for distribution to universities, public libraries, and scholars.
The book weaves together literary expression and intellectual reflection, offering readers a deeper understanding of both Pazhwak’s poetic craft and his broader vision. The combination of biography, analysis, and verse creates a multi-layered portrait of a writer whose ideals remain intertwined with Afghanistan’s cultural and political aspirations.
By ensuring wide distribution, the Pazhwak Foundation underscores its commitment to preserving and sharing this legacy with future generations. The book stands as both a cultural resource and a scholarly contribution, bridging past and present while keeping alive the enduring resonance of Pazhwak’s poetry.
An Analysis of Pazhwak's Pashto Poems
This collection of Ustad Pazhwak’s Pashto poems was analyzed by Mr. Asrar Shinwary as part of his master’s thesis at Kabul University in 2016. In 2023, the Pazhwak Foundation published an eBook version of the thesis, making this important work more widely accessible.
The study represents the first dedicated effort to gather and critically examine Pazhwak’s rich and powerful contributions to Pashto poetry. Through his analysis, Mr. Shinwary highlights the stylistic depth, literary innovation, and cultural resonance of Pazhwak’s Pashto verse, situating it within the broader tradition of Afghan literature.
As both an academic achievement and a contribution to cultural preservation, this book adds significantly to the body of Afghan literary studies. The Pazhwak Foundation extends its congratulations to Mr. Shinwary for his scholarship and is proud to support the dissemination of his work, which honors and elevates Pazhwak’s legacy in Pashto literary heritage.
Seminar Articles: Pazhwak's National and Social Vision
This volume brings together a collection of articles written by Afghan intellectuals who participated in an online seminar dedicated to Ustad Pazhwak’s legacy. The seminar, held in November 2023 (Aqrab 1402 in the Afghan calendar), provided a platform for scholarly reflection on his poetry, ideas, and influence.
The contributions explore Pazhwak’s thought in the context of Afghanistan’s national and social challenges, highlighting how his vision and literary voice engaged with the aspirations of his time. Each article offers a distinct perspective, collectively portraying the depth and breadth of Pazhwak’s intellectual and cultural impact.
As both a record of dialogue and a continuation of critical engagement, this book demonstrates the enduring relevance of Pazhwak’s legacy. It underscores how his work continues to inspire reflection on Afghanistan’s past, while also offering insights into the country’s ongoing struggles and hopes for the future.
Contes d'Afghanistan (People's Stories افسانه های مردم)
This volume is the French translation of Ustad Pazhwak’s celebrated collection of Afghan folkloric stories. First published in Dari in Kabul in the 1950s (1336 in the Afghan solar calendar), the book preserves tales that Pazhwak gathered and authored in his youth—stories passed down orally through generations. The French edition was originally published in France in 1980. The Pazhwak Foundation republished the Dari original in Kabul in 2017 (1396 Solar). In 2025, the Foundation prepared this reprint of the French version, based on an old copy obtained online and painstakingly typed and compiled by Véronique Pazhwak.
The stories represent Afghanistan’s rich treasury of national folklore, offering timeless narratives that embody cultural values, moral lessons, and the spirit of Afghan storytelling traditions. Presented in French, the collection also made Afghan oral heritage accessible to international audiences at a time when little of it had crossed linguistic borders.
The Pazhwak Foundation expresses its deep gratitude to Mrs. Véronique Pazhwak for her dedication in preparing this reprint. Her efforts ensure that both Afghan and global readers can continue to engage with these culturally significant tales, which stand as a bridge between oral tradition, written literature, and cross-cultural exchange.
BANO-E BALKH
This scanned volume was first published in 2001 in Peshawar. The book includes an extensive biography of A. R. Pazhwak and an insightful analysis of his poems and thoughts. Afghan scholar Atiqullah Pazhwak (a younger brother of Ustad Pazhwak) carefully compiled and edited this great work. Farhad Pazhwak, Ustad Pazhwak's eldest grandson, provide the content and Pazhwak Foundation sponsored the project. Pazhwak Foundation retyped and reprinted this significant book in August of 2025. 1000 copies of this book will become available in Afghanistan free of charge.