Day 9-Government Leaders
That God would…
- Install leaders who can defend the cause of the weak and provide economic relief to the people.
- Give gracious leaders courage to help minority communities, so that even followers of Jesus are not harassed and throw in jail or worse.
- Give leaders wisdom to work towards lasting peace throughout the region.
PSALM 82:3
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.”
***Pray the P believers will develop influential relationships with key religious and political leaders.
1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1Ti 2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1Ti 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
1Ti 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
TRIBAL WATCH The Tareen are a prominent Sarbani tribe residing in Pakistan & Afghanistan. They are one of the largest Pashtun tribes. The true origin of the Tareen tribe is Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan Province & Kandahar Province. In addition to the southern provinces of Afghanistan, Tarreen are found in Baluchistan & the FATA, Pray for many Tareen to hear the good news and come the faith and lead many to faith.
More Reading:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority… 1
Timothy 2:1-2
Governing Afghanistan and Pakistan is a master class in honor.
politics. Leaders in honor-shame cultures are widely expected to boost
their own socio-linguistic community’s economy and political power,
often at the expense of rival ethnic groups. At its best, this environment
produces dedicated representatives who advocate for their constituents.
At its worst, honor politics become a stagnant swamp of cronyism,
sectarianism, racism, graft or harsh fundamental religious system.
Afghanistan’s Pashtun majority has held power for decades under
the previous democratically elected government, and now the Taliban, However, in neighboring Pakistan, the Pashtun only comprise 15% of the population. Pashtuns there have struggled to
elect leaders who promote their interests, which has hindered social
mobility. However, there have been hints of change since Oxford educated
cricketer Imran Khan, a Pashtun, was elected prime minister on an anti-corruption platform in 2018. His narrative resonated with Pakistanis even outside the Pashtun community, and his actions while in
office seem to have sifted out entrenched corruption in all branches of government. However the Military and Judicial system put Imran Khan in jail in 2023 and have put in another leader team recently.
Previous elections to Afghanistan’s highest office have been more
complicated. Pashtun candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah
both claimed victory in the two previous elections. In the constitutional crises
that followed, the leaders struck power sharing deals that, while largely
peaceful, still continued to complicate peace talks with Taliban leadership.
For its part, the Taliban took over the government in August 2021 and established an Islamic government in Afghanistan, one that accepted freed Taliban prisoners into public service. Today the economic state of Afghanistan lays in ruins. To many Pashtun villagers, however, the seats of power in far-off
Kabul and Islamabad are irrelevant abstractions compared to tangible, local
hardships. There, family patriarchs, mullahs [Muslim religious leaders], jirga
councils [Pashtun tribal decision-making assembly], wield more influence than federally appointed
governors.
The King of Kings knows the Taliban leadership. He provides for those in
need, fights for justice, judges the corrupt, and protects the innocent from
violence.
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it
wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1
