Abstract
Pakhtuns of Pakistan emphatically identify themselves with cultural code called Pakhtunwali and with their religion Islam. The centrality of Islam and Pakhtunwali to Pakhtun sense of belonging is widely recognized in the literature. However, there is dearth of literature that would provide rigorous analysis of the relationship between Islam and Pakhtunwali. This study intends to provide such an extensive analysis. The study postulates that the literature represents dichotomous positions on whether Pakhtunwali and Islam coalesce or diverge. The paper also argues that there is growing disjunction between these identities as expressed by Pakhtun nationalist and religious elite in their discourse on identity and conflict in the region. Moreover, this discourse is not only discernable in cyber space (online discussions) but is also observable among the masses in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as Malakand.