ABSTRACT
The chapter begins by describing the ethnic composition of Paktya and concludes with a description of the political-military contest between Padshah Khan Zadran, on the one hand, and the Gardeze Tajik and Ahmadzais, on the other hand, in 2002. It then points to the role of PSCs and the Coalition in creating new opportunities for mobilization and highlights the prominent role of patronage in the identification of local police and PSC combatants. Second, the chapter illustrates the role of tanzims and the Afghan state in undermining the qawms and empowering local commanders. After a brief discussion of the combatant motivation in Paktya, the chapter then focuses on the arbakian, with the goal of exploring community conceptions of legitimate violence and mobilization.
