Okay but same Europeans who killed each other during World wars forgave each other by joining European Union, abolished borders, created one currency, supreme court and parliament. This has brought 70 of peace in Europe since 1945. This conduct by Europeans demonstrate that Taliban are not the only ones who can forgive the past and move ahead together.
1. Holocausts trials/criminal's search were still in 90s. - I don't know about the current status but holocaust has become a filthy industry. Read about it otherwise you wouldn't have given this example. Even innocents suffered sometimes and there are many instances of false identity with nefarious intents.
2. You are simply missing the point. EU and post war politics is a different matter altogether - about all nations have been at war at some time - maybe more apt than EU example, regional wars within current European nations will be a better example. Germany, France, Italy, Poland you name it , all constitute historical warring regions. Similarly in todays India, regions have been fighting each other since ever. . If you read history of US states you will be surprised. None of this has to anything with general pardoning, even of war criminals.
Pardoning is about conduct of conqueror/winning military and military leaders, not nations.
I cannot recall exactly right now- but. in Americas, there was catholic practice of en-mass pardon in lieu of en-mass conversions. or for tribal leader's conversion only. There is literature about that. Spanish/catholic history in south America is different - very cruel as well as compassionate. That's why there is a large populations of red-Indians today in South-American nations but they have been practically eliminated in North because of Protestantism liberal ethics and democracy. Do not expect conduct like pardoning from moderns or rationalists. Maybe by Catholics in the medieval times (if I recall right there are such examples in Scandinavia)- religious and tribal sensibilities are different, more compassionate, with a differing concept of humanity. Medieval warfare is also not the same as modern (all-out- total) warfare ;also modern standing national armies came into existence recently in the last 300 years after nationalism and colonization), Prior to that warfare was mainly about tributes and enlisting the whole of opposing army, and only occasionally, generally due to logistic reasons or treachery, mass slaughter/prison was carried out. Those wars were much humane than today's total wars and less expensive as well. Enslavement was also part of some warfare but slavery was a different concept then what is in modern times.
Anyhow, the way Taliban have pardoned the criminals is unique but general pardons and ending hostilities is part of pukhtunwali -
seh-per and
char-per wars. Pashtun wars are not about life and death but war is a way of life. When a tribe is conquered, it may be sent to exile or retires and hostilities end for a while , revenge is rare; often conquered top leaders maintain a respectful position; however conquered tribe prepares for another day. Individual and tribal conflicts have different dynamics. Anyhow such is not the conduct of modern man with a different view of rationality and law,. Taliban act is unique but hopefully we'll read something interesting on this topic by a genuine Pashtun experts soon.
