Pashtuns پښتون Paṣtun
Total population
ca. 42 million
Regions with significant populations
Pakistan 28 million (2005) [1][2]  Afghanistan 13 million (2006) [3]  United Arab Emirates 315,524 (2008) [4]  United Kingdom 200,000 (2006) [5]  Iran 150,000 (2005) [6]  India 11,086 (2001) [7]  United States 7,710 (2000) [8]  Canada 1,695 (2006) [9]
Language(s)
Pashto Persian or Urdu also spoken widely as second languages
Religion(s)
Islam (predominantly Sunni)

Pashtuns (Pashto: پشتون Paštūn or پختون Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns), also called Pathans (Urdu: پٹھان, Hindi: पठान Paṭhān), ethnic Afghans,^[10] or synonymously Afghans^[11] (Persian: افغان Afğān), are an Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistic group with populations primarily in eastern and southern Afghanistan and in the North-West Frontier Province, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan provinces of western Pakistan. The Pashtuns are typically characterized by their usage of the Pashto language and practice of Pashtunwali, which is a traditional code of conduct and honor.^[12] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Pashto (پښتو; also known as Afghan, Pushto, Pashto, Pashtoe, Pashtu, and Pukhto) is the language spoken by the ethnic Afghan otherwise known as the Pashtun people who inhabit Afghanistan and the Western provinces of Pakistan. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... A second language (L2) is any language learned after the first language or mother tongue (L1). ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Hindi (DevanāgarÄ«: or , IAST: , IPA:  ), an Indo-European language spoken all over India in varying degrees and extensively in northern and central India, is one of the 22 official languages of India and is used, along with English, for central government administrative purposes. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) (Urdu: Å›imāl maÄ¡ribÄ« sarhadÄ« sÅ«ba شمال مغربی سرحدی صوبہ) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. ... The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are areas of Pakistan outside the four provinces, comprising a region of some 27,220 km² (10,507 mi²). // The FATA are bordered by: Afghanistan to the west with the border marked by the Durand Line, the North-West Frontier Province and the Punjab... Balochistan, or Ballsforchinstan, Balochi, Pashto, Urdu: بلوچستان) is a province in Pakistan, the largest in the country by geographical area. ... Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... Pashtunwali (Pashto: ) is a concept of living for the Pashtun people (also known as Pathans), which dates back to pre-Islamic eras. ...

Pashtun society consists of many tribes and clans which were rarely politically united,^[13] until the rise of the Durrani Empire in 1747.^[3] Pashtuns played a vital role during the Great Game as they were caught between the imperialist designs of the British and Russian empires. For over 250 years, they reigned as the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan. They gained world-wide attention after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and with the rise and fall of the Taliban, since they were the main ethnic contingent in the movement. Pashtuns are also an important community in Pakistan, where they are prominently represented in the military and are the second-largest ethnic group.^[14] http://www. ... For other uses, see Clan (disambiguation). ... The Durrani Empire was a larger state that included modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of eastern Iran and western India. ... Central Asia, circa 1848. ... A Soviet soldier on guard in Afghanistan in 1988. ... The Taliban (Pashto: , also anglicized as Taleban) are a Sunni Muslim and ethnic Pashtun movement [2] that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by a cooperative military effort between the Northern Alliance, United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. ...

The Pashtuns are the world's largest (patriarchal) segmentary lineage ethnic group.^[15] The total population of the group is estimated to be around 42 million, but an accurate count remains elusive due to the lack of an official census in Afghanistan since 1979.^[16] There are an estimated 60 major Pashtun tribes and more than 400 sub-clans.^[17] A segmentary lineage society is characterized by the organization of the society into segments. ... The Pashtun tribes are divided into four larger tribal confederacies: Sarbani Yusafzai Tarkalani Mohmand Mohammadzai Batani Niazi Ghilzai Lodhi Suri Marwat Lohani Nuhrani Ghourghushti Kakar Mando Jadoon Safi Karlani or Karlanri Mahsud Waziri khattak Afridi Orakzai Dawar Bangash // The Tanolies (also spelt Tanauli, Tanawali) are a prominent and famous Muslim...

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Afghanistan and Demographics of Pakistan

The vast majority of Pashtuns are found in an area stretching from southeastern Afghanistan to northwestern Pakistan. Additional Pashtun communities are found in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and in Khorasan Province of eastern Iran. There is also a sizeable community in India composed mainly of Afghan refugees.^[18][7] A large migrant-worker community resides in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and in smaller communities in Europe and North America. Important metropolitan centers of Pashtun culture include Peshawar and Kandahar. Quetta and Kabul are ethnically mixed cities with large Pashtun populations. With 1.5 million ethnic Pashtuns, Karachi hosts one of the largest Pashtun populations in the world.^[19] Ethnic groups of Afghanistan (1980 map)  42% Pashtun  27% Tajik  9% Hazara  9% Uzbek         3% Turkmen  2% Baloch        Languages of Afghanistan (1980 map)  50% Dari dialect of Persian  35% Pashto  8% Uzbek  3% Turkmen  2% Baloch        The Demographics of Afghanistan are ethnically and linguistically mixed. ... Demographics of Pakistan, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... The Northern Areas (Urdu: شمالی علاقے ) or Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost region of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. ... Map showing the pre-2004 Khorasan Province in Iran Khorasan (Persian: خراسان) (also transcribed as Khurasan and Khorassan, anciently called Traxiane during Hellenistic and Parthian times is currently a region located in north eastern Iran, but historically referred to a much larger area east and north-east of the Persian Empire... Arabia redirects here. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ...   (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. ... This article is about the city in Afghanistan. ...   (Urdu: کوئٹہ) also spelled Kwatah city is a variation of kwatkot, a Pashto word meaning “fort,”. It is the largest city and provincial capital and district of Baluchistan Province, Pakistan. ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ...   (Sindhi: , Urdu: ) is the largest city in Pakistan and is the provincial capital of Sindh province. ...

Pashtuns comprise over 15.42% of Pakistan's population or 25.6 million people.^[1] In Afghanistan, they make up an estimated 39%^[20] to 42% of the population or 12.4 to 13.3 million people. The exact numbers remain uncertain, particularly in Afghanistan, and are affected by approximately 3 million Afghan refugees that remain in Pakistan, of which 81.5% or 2.49 million are ethnic Pashtuns.^[2] An unknown number of refugees continue to reside in Iran.^[21] A cumulative population assessment suggests a total of around 42 million across the region.^[1][3][2] Demographics of Pakistan, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... Ethnic groups of Afghanistan (1980 map)  42% Pashtun  27% Tajik  9% Hazara  9% Uzbek         3% Turkmen  2% Baloch        Languages of Afghanistan (1980 map)  50% Dari dialect of Persian  35% Pashto  8% Uzbek  3% Turkmen  2% Baloch        The Demographics of Afghanistan are ethnically and linguistically mixed. ... The Muhajir or Mohajir Afghans are the Afghan refugees that fled Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979. ...

History and origins

See also: History of Afghanistan and History of Pakistan

The history of the Pashtuns is ancient, much of which is fully researched. The regions inhabited by Pashtuns are known in Latin literature as Bactria. The Pashtuns are like the Medes and Persians, Iranian peoples and are descended from the Scythians, Kushans, Hephthalites all of whom are eastern Iranian (Bactrian) tribes. This article is about the history of the area that eventually became known as Afghanistan[1], a territory whose current boundaries were mostly determined in the 19th Century. ... A relief map of Pakistan showing historic sites. ... Bactria, about 320 BC Bactria (Bactriana, Bākhtar in Persian, also Bhalika in Arabic and Indian languages, and Ta-Hia in Chinese) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya (Oxus); its capital, Bactra or Balhika or Bokhdi (now... Mede nobility. ... This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. ... Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... The Scythians (, also ) or Scyths ([1]; from Greek ), a nation of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who spoke an Iranian language[2], dominated the Pontic steppe throughout Classical Antiquity. ... Boundary of the Kushan empire, c. ... The Hephthalites or White Huns were a Central Asian nomadic confederation whose precise origins and composition remain obscure. ... Bactria (Bactriana) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush (Caucasus Indicus) and the Amu Darya (Oxus), with the capital Bactra (now Balkh). ...

Ancient references

See also: Origins of the name Afghan

Afghan chiefs and a British Political Officer posed at Jamrud fort at the mouth of the Khyber Pass in 1878.

A variety of ancient groups with eponyms similar to either Pashtun or Pukhtun have been hypothesized as possible ancestors of modern Pashtuns. The Greek historian Herodotus mentioned a people called Pactyans, living on the eastern frontier of the Persian Satrapy Arachosia as early as the 1st millennium BC. ^[22] Similarly, the Rig-Veda mentions a tribe called the Pakthas^[23] (in the region of Pakhat) inhabiting eastern Iran as does the Iranian Avesta mention the Peshotanan Iranian tribe inhabiting the eastern frontiers of the Iranian Plateau.^[24] Afghanistan literally means the Land of Afghans. In this case, Afghan is synonymous with Pashtun. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 778 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (847 × 653 pixel, file size: 355 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photograph of Afghan chiefs and a British Political Officer posed at Jamrud fort at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, taken by John Burke in 1878. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 778 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (847 × 653 pixel, file size: 355 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photograph of Afghan chiefs and a British Political Officer posed at Jamrud fort at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, taken by John Burke in 1878. ... Jamrud (Urdu: جمرود), is a town located in the Khyber Agency, one of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. ... The Khyber Pass, also referred to as The Khyber (also spelt the Khaiber Pass or Khaybar Pass) (Urdu: درہ خیبر) (altitude: 1,070 m , 3,510 ft) is the mountain pass that links Pakistan and Afghanistan. ... An eponym is the name of a person, whether real or fictitious, who has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery, or other item. ... Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Greek: HÄ“ródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC (ca. ... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Arachosia is the ancient name of an area that corresponds to the southern part of today s Afghanistan, around the city of Kandahar. ... The 1st millennium BC encompasses the Iron Age and sees the rise of successive empires. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit á¹›gveda from á¹›c praise + veda knowledge) is a collection of hymns(each hymn is called a Rucha.) counted among the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and contains the oldest texts preserved in any Indo-Iranian language. ... The Pakthas were one of the tribes that fought against Sudas in the Dasarajna battle. ... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ...

In modern history, Pashtuns were also called Afghans until the advent of modern Afghanistan and the division of Pashtuns by a border called Durand Line drawn by the British in the late 19th century. According to several scholars such as V. Minorsky, W.K. Frazier Tyler and M.C. Gillet, "The word Afghan first appears in history in the Hudud-al-Alam in 982 CE."^[25] It was used by the Pashtuns and refers to a common legendary ancestor known as Afghana. The Durand Line is the term for the 2,640 kilometer (1,610 mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. ...

Al-Biruni refers to Afghans as various tribes living on the western frontier mountains of India, a possible reference to the Sulaiman Mountains, and further notes that they were neither Muslim or Hindu, indicative of an indigenous pre-Islamic religion.^[26] Thus, it is believed that the Pashtuns emerged from the area around Kandahar and the Sulaiman Mountains, and expanded from there.^[10] In this geographic location they would have often been in close contact with with not just other Iranian tribes such as Persians but also with Indians,^[27] and were Zoroastrians, Shamanists, and later Buddhists before the arrival in the 7th century of Muslim Arabs who brought Islam.^[28][29] A statue of Biruni adorns the southwest entrance of Laleh Park in Tehran. ... sorry guys it is unavailable and happens to be deleted--212. ... Kandahar or Qandahar (Pashto: قندھار) is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. ... sorry guys it is unavailable and happens to be deleted--212. ... Founder of empires: Cyrus, The Great is still revered in modern Iran as he was in all the successor Persian Empires. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... This article is about the practice of shamanism; for other uses, see Shaman (disambiguation). ... Buddhism is a variety of teachings, sometimes described as a religion[1] or way of life that attempts to identify the causes of human suffering and offer various ways that are claimed to end, or ease suffering. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

Anthropology and linguistics

The origins of the Pashtuns are eastern Iranian. The Pashto language is classified under the Eastern Iranian sub-branch of the Iranian branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Thus, Pashtuns are classified as an Iranian people,^[30][31] possibly as partial descendants of the Scythians, an ancient Iranian group.^[32] The Eastern Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages emerging in Middle Iranian times (from ca. ... For other uses, see Indo-European. ... A language family is a group of languages related by descent from a common proto-language. ... Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... The Scythians (, also ) or Scyths ([1]; from Greek ), a nation of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who spoke an Iranian language[2], dominated the Pontic steppe throughout Classical Antiquity. ...

Early precursors to the Pashtuns were Old Iranian tribes that spread throughout the eastern Iranian plateau.^[33][34] According to academic Yu. V. Gankovsky, the Pashtuns began as a "union of largely East-Iranian tribes which became the initial ethnic stratum of the Pashtun ethnogenesis, dates from the middle of the first millennium CE and is connected with the dissolution of the Epthalite (White Huns) confederacy."^[35] Topographic map of the Iranian plateau connecting to Anatolia in the west and Hindu Kush and Himalaya in the east Iranian plateau is both a geographical area of South or West Asia, home of ancient civilizations[1], and a geological area of Eurasia north of the great folded mountain belts... The Hephthalites or White Huns were a Central Asian nomadic confederation whose precise origins and composition remain obscure. ...

Pashtuns who speak a southern dialect of Pashto refer to themselves as Pashtuns, while those who speak a northern dialect as Pukhtuns. These Pashtuns compose the core of ethnic Pashtuns who are found in western Pakistan and southern-eastern Afghanistan. Like other Iranian peoples, many Pashtuns have mixed with various invaders, neighboring groups, and migrants. In terms of phenotype, Pashtuns are predominantly a Mediterranean people,^[36] and light hair and eye colors are not uncommon, especially among remote mountain tribes.^[37] Individuals in the mollusk species Donax variabilis show diverse coloration and patterning in their phenotypes. ... The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Oral traditions

Some anthropologists lend credence to the mythical oral traditions of the Pashtun tribes themselves. For example, according to the Encyclopaedia of Islam, the theory of Pashtun descent from Israelites is traced to Maghzan-e-Afghani who compiled a history for Khan-e-Jehan Lodhi in the reign of Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the 17th century. This article is about the social science. ... For other uses, see Myth (disambiguation). ... Oral tradition or oral culture is a way of transmitting history, literature or law from one generation to the next in a civilization without a writing system. ... The Pashtun tribes are divided into four larger tribal confederacies: Sarbani Yusafzai Tarkalani Mohmand Mohammadzai Batani Niazi Ghilzai Lodhi Suri Marwat Lohani Nuhrani Ghourghushti Kakar Mando Jadoon Safi Karlani or Karlanri Mahsud Waziri khattak Afridi Orakzai Dawar Bangash // The Tanolies (also spelt Tanauli, Tanawali) are a prominent and famous Muslim... The Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI) is the standard encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies. ... The theory that the Pashtun people originate from the exiled Lost Tribes of Israel was widely held as recently as the 19th century. ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area... Nuruddin Jahangir (August 31, 1569 - October 28, 1627) was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until 1627. ...

Another book that corresponds with Pashtun historical records, Taaqati-Nasiri, states that in the 7th century a people called the Bani Israel settled in Ghor, southeast of Herat, Afghanistan, and then migrated south and east. These references to Bani Israel agree with the commonly held view by Pashtuns that when the twelve tribes of Israel were dispersed (see Israel and Judah and Ten Lost Tribes), the tribe of Joseph, among other Hebrew tribes, settled in the region.^[38] This oral tradition is widespread among the Pashtuns. There have been many legends over the centuries of descent from the Ten Lost Tribes after groups converted to Christianity and Islam. Hence the tribal name 'Yusef Zai' in Pashto translates to the 'sons of Joseph'. A similar story is told by Iranian historian Ferishta.^[39] The Children of Israel, or Bnei Yisrael (בני ישראל) in Hebrew (also Bnai Yisrael, Bnei Yisroel or Bene Israel) is a Biblical term for the Israelites. ... Ghowr province (sometimes spelled Ghor) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. ... Herāt (Persian: ‎ ) is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. ... “The Twelve Tribes” redirects here. ... For the pre-history of the region, see Pre-history of the Southern Levant. ... The phrase Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to the ancient Tribes of Israel that disappeared from the Biblical account after the Kingdom of Israel was totally destroyed, enslaved and exiled by ancient Assyria. ... The Tribe of Joseph is not usually listed with the Hebrew tribes although Joseph is one of Jacobs twelve sons, his elder son by Rachel. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... A tribal name is a name of an ethnic tribe —usually of ancient origin, which represented its self-identity. ... The Yusufzai (also Yousafzai, Esapzey, or Yusufi) (Urdu: یوسف زئی) are one of the largest Pashtun tribe. ... Firishta or Ferishta (c. ...

But the Bani-Israel theory has major historical and linguistic inconsistencies. The main one is that the Ten Lost Tribes were exiled by Assyria, while Maghzan-e-Afghani says they were permitted by the ruler of Persia to go east to Afghanistan. ^[40] This inconsistency can be explained by the fact that Persia acquired the lands of the Assyrian Empire when it conquered Babylonia, which had conquered Assyria decades earlier. But no ancient author mentions such a transfer of Israelites further east, or no ancient extra-Biblical texts refer to the Ten Lost Tribes at all. Also, the Rig Veda, believed to have been composed before 1200 BC, already mentions the Pashtuns as living in the area of Afghanistan.^[41]No ancient author before the conversion of the Pashtuns to Islam mentions any Israelite or Jewish connection.^[42] The oral tradition may be a myth which grew out of a political and cultural struggle with the Mughals.^[40] For other uses, see Assyria (disambiguation). ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Babylonia was a state in southern Mesopotamia, in modern Iraq, combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

Other Pashtun tribes claim descent from Arabs, including some even claiming to be descendants of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad (popularly referred to as sayyids).^[43] Some groups from Peshawar and Kandahar (such as the Afridis , Khattaks and Sadozais) also claim to be descended from Alexander the Great's Greeks.^[44] Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predominantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Alawite Islam, Druzism, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism Footnotes a Mainly in Antakya. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... For the Lost character, please see Sayid Jarrah Sayyid () (plural Saadah) is an honorific title that is given to males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, who were the sons of his daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in...   (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. ... This article is about the city in Afghanistan. ... Afridi fighters seen in a battle. ... Khattak or Khatak (Urdu: خٹک ) is a Pashtun tribe. ... The Sadozai are a lineage of the Popalzay clan of the Abdali tribe of the Pashtun. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ...

Genetics

Research into human DNA is as a new way to explore historical movements of populations by studying their genetic make-up. Some recent genetic genealogy studies show Pashto-speaking Pashtuns are mainly related to Iranian peoples and to the Burusho who speak a language isolate.^[45][44] There is evidence of a small Greek contribution to the Pashtun gene pool that will likely require further testing in order to ascertain its pervasiveness.^[46] A genealogical DNA test examines the nucleotides at specific locations on a persons DNA for genetic genealogy purposes. ... Genetic genealogy is the application of genetics to traditional genealogy. ... Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... The Burusho (or Burushas) are an ethnic group living in northeastern Pakistan, most of whom inhabit the Hunza Valley. ... A language isolate, in the absolute sense, is a natural language with no demonstrable genealogical (or genetic) relationship with other living languages; that is, one that has not been demonstrated to descend from an ancestor common to any other language. ...

Modern era

Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani Empire in 1747.

The Pashtuns are intimately tied to the history of modern Afghanistan and western Pakistan, sometimes referred to as Pashtunistan. Following Muslim Arab and Turkic conquests from the 7th to 11th centuries, Pashtun ghazis (warriors for the faith) invaded and conquered much of northern India during the Khilji dynasty (1290-1321), Lodhi dynasty (1451-1526) and Suri dynasty (1540-1556). The Pashtuns' modern past stretches back to the Hotaki dynasty (1709-1738) and later the Durrani Empire (1747-1823).^[47] The Hotakis were Ghilzai tribesmen, who defeated the Safavid dynasty of Persia and seized control over much of the Persian Empire from 1722 to 1738. This was followed by the conquests of Ahmad Shah Durrani who was a former high-ranking military commander under the ruler Nadir Shah of Persia. He founded the Durrani Empire that covered most of what is today Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, Indian Punjab, and Khorasan province of Iran.^[48][49] After the fall of the Durrani Empire in 1818, the Barakzai clan took control of Afghanistan. Specifically, the Mohamedzai subclan ruled Afghanistan from 1826 to the end of Mohammad Zahir Shah reign in 1973. This legacy continues into modern times as Afghanistan is run by President Hamid Karzai, who is an ethnic Pashtun from Kandahar. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... See Ahmad Shah Qajar for the Persian ruler (1909-1925). ... The Durrani Empire was a larger state that included modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of eastern Iran and western India. ... Pashtunistan (Pashto, Persian: پشتونستان) or Pakhtunistan (Pashto, Persian: پختونستان), is what many Pashtun nationalists call the Pashtun-dominated areas of Pakistan. ... This article is about the history and concept of ghazw and ghāzÄ«. For other meanings of gazi, see Gazi (disambiguation). ... Khilij Dynasty Khilji or Khalji (Urdu / Pashto: خلجی خاندان) was a ruling dynasty that was made-up of ethnic ghilzai afghans(called pushtunes or pathans). ... The Lodi Dynasty ( 1451 to 1526), was the last phase of the Delhi Sultanate. ... Sher Shah Suris Empire The Suri dynasty was made-up of turkic Oghuz Turks, who ruled northern India between 1540 and 1555/1556. ... The Hotaki dynasty (1709-1736) was founded by Afghans (Pashuns) from the Ghilzai clan. ... The Durrani Empire was a larger state that included modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of eastern Iran and western India. ... The Ghilzais (also known as Khiljis or Ghaljis) are one of two largest groups of Pashtuns, along with the Durrani tribe, found in Afghanistan with a large group also found in neighboring Pakistan. ... Safavid Empire at its Greatest Extent After Islamic Conquest  Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic Afghanistan  Azerbaijan  Bahrain  Iran  Iraq  Tajikistan  Pakistan  This box:      The Safavids (Persian: ; Azerbaijani: ) were an Iranian[1] Shia dynasty of mixed Azeri[2] and Kurdish[3] origins, which ruled Persia from 1501/1502 to 1722. ... Persia redirects here. ... Ahmad Shah Durrani Ahmad Shah Abdali (c. ... Nāder Shāh Afshār (Persian: ; also known as Nāder Qoli Beg - نادر قلی بیگ or Tahmāsp Qoli Khān - تهماسپ قلی خان) (August 6, 1698[1] – June 19, 1747) ruled as Shah of Iran (1736–47) and was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty. ... The Durrani Empire was a larger state that included modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of eastern Iran and western India. ... This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir. ... , This article is about the Indian state of Punjab. ... Map showing the pre-2004 Khorasan Province in Iran Khorasan (Persian: خراسان) (also transcribed as Khurasan and Khorassan, anciently called Traxiane during Hellenistic and Parthian times is currently a region located in north eastern Iran, but historically referred to a much larger area east and north-east of the Persian Empire... Barakzai or Barakzay is a Pashtun clan, belonging to Afghanistan and some also to Pakistan. ... The Mohammadzai are a Pashtun tribe centered around Qandahar, Afghanistan. ... Insert non-formatted text here Mohammed Zahir Shah (16 October 1914 – 23 July 2007) was the last King (Shah) of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 to 1973. ... Hamid Karzai (Persian: حامد کرزى and Pashto: حامد کرزي) (b. ... This article is about the city in Afghanistan. ...

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai wearing his traditional Pashtun clothes and a karakul hat in 2003.

The Pashtuns in Afghanistan resisted British designs upon their territory and kept the Russians at bay during the so-called Great Game. By playing the two empires against each other, Afghanistan remained an independent state and maintained some autonomy (see the Siege of Malakand). But during the reign of Abdur Rahman Khan (1880-1901), Pashtun regions were divided by the Durand Line, and what is today western Pakistan was ceded to British India in 1893.^[50] In the 20th century, some Pashtun leaders living under British Indian rule in the North-West Frontier Province supported Indian independence, including Khan Wali Khan and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (both members of the Khudai Khidmatgar, popularly referred to as the Surkh posh or "the Red shirts"), and were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent method of resistance.^[51] Later, in the 1970s, Khan Wali Khan pressed for more autonomy for Pashtuns in Pakistan. Hamid Karzai. ... Hamid Karzai. ... Afghanistan has only intermittently been a republic - between 1973-1992 and from 2001 onwards - at other times being governed by a variety of kings, emirs and (under the mujahideen and Taliban regimes in the 1990s) Islamist rulers. ... Hamid Karzai (Persian: حامد کرزى and Pashto: حامد کرزي) (b. ... The Karakul is a breed of domesticated sheep. ... Central Asia, circa 1848. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... Combatants British Empire پشتون Pashtun tribes Commanders William Hope Meiklejohn, Sir Bindon Blood Fakir Saidullah[1] Strength 10,630 on July 26, 1897[2] 10,000[3] Casualties 173 killed and wounded in the Malakand camps,[4][5] 33 killed and wounded at Chakdara,[6] 206 killed and wounded in total... Amir Abdur Rahman Khan Abdur Rahman Khan Abdur Rahman Khan (1844 - October 1, 1901), Emir of Afghanistan, was the third son of Afzul Khan, who was the eldest son of Dost Mahommed Khan, who had established the Barakzais family dynasty in Afghanistan. ... The Durand Line is the term for the 2,640 kilometer (1,610 mile) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... Anthem God Save The King-Emperor The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy... The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) (Urdu: Å›imāl maÄ¡ribÄ« sarhadÄ« sÅ«ba شمال مغربی سرحدی صوبہ) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. ... The term Indian independence movement is diffused, incorporating various national and regional campaigns, agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant philosophy and involved a wide spectrum of Indian political organizations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending the British Colonial Authority as well as other colonial... Khan Abdul Wali Khan Khan Abdul Wali Khan (b. ... Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Pashto/Arabic: خان عبد الغفار خان) (b. ... An old red shirt activist, picture taken by Mukulika Banerjee: The Pathan Unarmed Khudai Khidmatgar (Pashto: خدای خدمتگر) literally translates as the servants of God. ... “Gandhi” redirects here. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence), whether held as a moral philosophy or only employed as an action strategy, rejects the use of physical violence in efforts to attain social, economic or political change. ...

Zalmay Khalilzad, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, is an ethnic Pashtun.^[52]

Pashtuns in Afghanistan attained complete independence from British intervention during the reign of King Amanullah Khan, following the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The monarchy ended when Sardar Daoud Khan seized control of Afghanistan in 1973. This opened the door to Soviet intervention and culminated in the Communist Saur Revolution in 1978. Starting in the late 1970s, many Pashtuns joined the Mujahideen opposition against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They fought for control of Afghanistan against the Communist Khalq and the Parcham factions. More recently, the Pashtuns became known for being the primary ethnic group that comprised the Taliban, which was a religious movement that emerged from Kandahar, Afghanistan.^[53] In late 2001, the Taliban government was removed from power as a result of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Image File history File linksMetadata Z_Khalilzad. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Z_Khalilzad. ... Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad (Pashto/Persian: ) (born: 22 March 1951) is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. ... United States Ambassador to the United Nations, full title, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations (also known as the... King Amanullah Khan Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (June 1, 1892 - April 25, 1960) was the ruler of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929. ... // It was not until 1826 that the energetic Dost Mohammad was able to exert sufficient control over his brothers to take over the throne in Kabul, where he proclaimed himself amir. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... CCCP redirects here. ... The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was the communist governance in Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. ... Mujahideen (Arabic: ‎, , literally strugglers) is a term for Muslims fighting in a war or involved in any other struggle. ... Belligerents DRA USSR Mujahideen of Afghanistan Commanders Soviet 40th Army: Sergei Sokolov Valentin Varennikov Boris Gromov DRA: Babrak Karmal Mohammad Najibullah Abdul Rashid Dostum Abdul Haq Jalaluddin Haqqani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ismail Khan Ahmad Shah Massoud Strength Soviet forces: 80,000-104,000 Afghan forces: 329,000 (in 1989)[1] 45... Khalq (Masses) was a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan. ... A communist group in Afghanistan formed in 1967 by USSRs help. ... The Taliban (Pashto: , also anglicized as Taleban) are a Sunni Muslim and ethnic Pashtun movement [2] that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by a cooperative military effort between the Northern Alliance, United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the city in Afghanistan. ... For other uses of War in Afghanistan, see War in Afghanistan (disambiguation). ...

Pashtuns have played an important role in the regions of South and Central Asia and the Middle East. In neighboring Pakistan, ethnic Pashtun politicians, notably Ayub Khan and Ghulam Ishaq Khan, have also attained the Presidency, as well as high government posts such as Army Chief (Gul Hasan Khan) and Ministries. The Afghan royal family, now represented by Muhammad Zahir Shah, is also of ethnic Pashtun origin. Other prominent Pashtuns include the 17th-century warrior poet Khushal Khan Khattak, Afghan "Iron" Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, and in modern times U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (Zalmay Khalilzad) and former Afghan Astronaut (Abdul Ahad Mohmand) among many others. Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... This article is about a Pakistani military officer. ... Ghulam Ishaq Khan (abbreviated as GIK) (Urdu: غلام اسحاق خان) (January 20, 1915 - October 27, 2006) was President of Pakistan from August 17, 1988 until July 18, 1993. ... This article is about the monarchy-related concept. ... Insert non-formatted text here Mohammed Zahir Shah (16 October 1914 – 23 July 2007) was the last King (Shah) of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 to 1973. ... Khushal Khan Khattak Khushal Khan Khattak (1613 - 1690) was a famous Afghan warrior, poet, and tribal chief of the Khattak tribe. ... Amir Abdur Rahman Khan Abdur Rahman Khan Abdur Rahman Khan (1844 - October 1, 1901), Emir of Afghanistan, was the third son of Afzul Khan, who was the eldest son of Dost Mahommed Khan, who had established the Barakzais family dynasty in Afghanistan. ... United States Ambasadors to the United Nations, full title, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations (also known as the... Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad (Pashto/Persian: ) (born: 22 March 1951) is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. ... For other uses, see Astronaut (disambiguation). ... Abdul Ahad Mohmand (b. ...

Pashtuns defined

Among historians, anthropologists, and the Pashtuns themselves, there is some debate as to who exactly is a Pashtun. The most prominent views are:

• Pashtuns are predominantly an Eastern Iranian people who are speakers of the Pashto language and live in a contiguous geographic location across Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is the generally accepted academic view.^[54]
• Pashtuns are Muslims who follow Pashtunwali, speak Pashto and meet other criteria.^[55]
• In accordance with the legend of Qais Abdur Rashid, the figure traditionally regarded as progenitor of the Pashtun people, Pashtuns are those whose related patrilineal descent may be traced back to legendary times.

These three definitions may be described as the ethno-linguistic definition, the religious-cultural definition, and the patrilineal definition, respectively. Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Pashtunwali (Pashto: ) is a concept of living for the Pashtun people (also known as Pathans), which dates back to pre-Islamic eras. ... Qais Abdur Rashid is thought, among Pashtuns, to be the first Pashtun who traveled to Mecca and Madina during the early days of Islam. ... Patrilineality (a. ...

Ethnic definition

Young Pashtun boys in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan.

The ethno-linguistic definition is the most prominent and accepted view as to who is and is not a Pashtun.^[56] Generally, this most common view holds that Pashtuns are defined within the parameters of having mainly eastern Iranian ethnic origins, sharing a common language, culture and history, living in relatively close geographic proximity to each other, and acknowledging each other as kinsmen. Thus, tribes that speak disparate yet mutually intelligible dialects of Pashto acknowledge each other as ethnic Pashtuns and even subscribe to certain dialects as "proper", such as the Pukhtu spoken by the Yousafzai and the Pashto spoken by the Durrani in Kandahar.^[57] These criteria tend to be used by most Pashtuns in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Nangarhar province is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. ... The Yusufzai (also Yousafzai, Esapzey, or Yusufi) (Urdu: یوسف زئی) are one of the largest Pashtun tribe. ... Durrani (Persian: درانی) or Abdali (Persian: ابدالی) tribe is one of the Pashtun elite, and is also found in large numbers in western Pakistan. ... This article is about the city in Afghanistan. ...

Cultural definition

Pashtuns today are Muslim. The cultural definition is more stringent and requires Pashtuns to speak Pashto and to adhere to the Pashtunwali code.^[58] A few Pashtuns tend to be more flexible and sometimes define who is Pashtun based on other criteria. There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Pashto (پښتو; also known as Afghan, Pushto, Pashto, Pashtoe, Pashtu, and Pukhto) is the language spoken by the ethnic Afghan otherwise known as the Pashtun people who inhabit Afghanistan and the Western provinces of Pakistan. ... Pashtunwali (Pashto: ) is a concept of living for the Pashtun people (also known as Pathans), which dates back to pre-Islamic eras. ...

Pashtun society is not homogenous by religion: most Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims, while some follow Shia Islam or other sects. While there once Jews amongst them numbering in the thousands, they have largely relocated to Israel after the inception of that state in 1948. Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Languages Historical Jewish languages Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, others Liturgical languages: Hebrew and Aramaic Predominant spoken languages: The vernacular language of the home nation in the Diaspora, significantly including English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Arabs and other Semitic groups For the Jewish religion, see Judaism. ...

Ancestral definition

The patrilineal definition is based on an important orthodox law of Pashtunwali which mainly requires that only those who have a Pashtun father are Pashtun. This law has maintained the tradition of exclusively patriarchal tribal lineage. This definition places less emphasis on what language one speaks, such as Pashto, Persian, Urdu or English. For example, the Pathans in India have lost both the language and presumably many of the ways of their putative ancestors, but trace their fathers' ethnic heritage to the Pashtun tribes.

Some believe that Pashtun tribes are descendants of the four grandsons of the legendary Qais Abdur Rashid.^[59] The legend says that after Qais heard of the new religion of Islam, he traveled to meet the Muslim Prophet Muhammad in Medina and returned to Afghanistan-Pakistan area as a Muslim. He purportedly had many children, and his son Afghana produced up to four sons who traveled east towards Swat, Lahore, Multan and Quetta respectively. This legend is one of many traditional tales among the Pashtuns regarding their disparate origins that remain largely unverifiable. Qais Abdur Rashid is thought, among Pashtuns, to be the first Pashtun who traveled to Mecca and Madina during the early days of Islam. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Swat (Pashto/Urdu: سوات) is a valley and a district in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. ...   (Urdu: لاہور, Punjabi: لہور, pronounced ) is the capital of the Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. ... Multan shown on a 1669 world map   (Urdu: ملتان) is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. ...   (Urdu: کوئٹہ) also spelled Kwatah city is a variation of kwatkot, a Pashto word meaning “fort,”. It is the largest city and provincial capital and district of Baluchistan Province, Pakistan. ...

Putative ancestry

There are various communities who claim Pashtun descent but are largely found among other groups in South and Central Asia who generally do not speak Pashto. Those communities are often considered overlapping groups or are simply assigned to the ethno-linguistic group that corresponds to their geographic location and mother tongue. They include various non-Pashtun Afghans who often speak Persian rather than Pashto.^[3] Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Farsi redirects here. ...

Many claimants of Pashtun heritage in South Asia have mixed with local Muslim populations and refer to themselves (and to Pashto-speaking Pashtuns and often to Afghans in general) as Pathans, the Hindi-Urdu variant of Pashtun.^[60] These populations are usually only part-Pashtun, to varying degrees, and often trace their Pashtun ancestry putatively through a paternal lineage, and are not universally viewed as ethnic Pashtuns (see section on Pashtuns Defined for further analysis). Hindustani redirects here. ...

Some groups claiming Pashtun descent live close to Pashtuns, such as the Hindkowans who are sometimes referred to as Punjabi Pathans in publications such as Encyclopedia Britannica.^[61] The Hindkowans speak the Hindko language and are considered to have mixed Pashtun and local origins.^[62] Culturally similar to Pashtuns, they often practice Pashtunwali in Pashtun-majority areas. They are a large minority in major cities such as Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan and in mixed districts including Haripur and Abbottabad where they are often bilingual in Hindko and Pashto. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1913 advertisement for the 11th edition, with the slogan When in doubt — look it up in the Encyclopædia Britannica The Encyclopædia Britannica (properly spelled with æ, the ae-ligature) was first published in 1768–1771 as The Britannica was an important early English-language general encyclopedia and is still... It has been suggested that Hindku be merged into this article or section. ...   (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. ... Kohat (Urdu: کوہاٹ) is a medium sized town in central North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. ... Location of Mardan District (highlighted in yellow) within the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. ... Dera Ismail Khan (Urdu: ڈیرہ اسما عیل خان) is a city in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. ... Location of Haripur District (highlighted in red) within the North West Frontier Province. ... Abbottabad (Urdu: ایبٹ آباد ) is a district in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. ...

Many Indian Muslims claim descent from Pashtun soldiers who settled in India and married local Indians during the Muslim conquest of India.^[18] No specific population figures exist, as claimants of Pashtun descent are spread throughout the country. Notably, the Rohilla Pashtuns, after their defeat by the British, are known to have settled in parts of North India and intermarried with local Indians. They are believed to have been bilingual in Pashto and Urdu until the mid-19th century. Also, the repression of Rohilla Pashtuns by the British in the late 19th century caused thousands to flee to the Dutch colony of Guyana and Suriname in South America. The vast majority later re-settled in Pakistan.^[63] Islam in India is the second-most practiced religion after Hinduism. ... The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though earlier Muslim conquests made limited inroads into the region, beginning during the period of the ascendancy of the Rajput Kingdoms in North India, from the 7th century onwards. ... Rohillas were Muslim Pashtun highlanders (Roh means mountains and Rohilla literally means mountaineer) of Pashtun origin. ... Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Culture

Main article: Pashtun culture

Pashtun culture was formed over the course of many centuries. Pre-Islamic traditions have survived in the form of traditional festivals and dances, while literary styles and music largely reflect strong similarities with the Persian tradition and regional musical instruments fused with localized variants and interpretation. Pashtun culture is varied and is heavily influenced by that of Central Asia and other Afghan peoples. ... Safavid era painting kept at The Grand Shah Abbas Caravanserai Hotel in Isfahan. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ...

Language

Main article: Pashto language

The Pashtuns speak Pashto, an Indo-European language. It belongs to the Iranian sub-group of the Indo-Iranian branch.^[64] It can be further delineated within Eastern Iranian and Southeastern Iranian. Pashto is written in the Perso-Arabic script and is divided into two main dialects, the northern "Pukhtu" and the southern "Pashto". Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... Pashto (‎, IPA: , also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto ‎, Pashtoe, Pashtu, Pushtu, Pathani or Pushtoo and also known as Afghan language[4][5]) is an Iranian language spoken by Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and Pakistan[6]. // Geographic distribution of Pashto (purple) and other Iranian languages Pashto is spoken by about 30... For other uses, see Indo-European. ... The Iranian languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family. ... The Indo-Iranian language group constitutes the easternmost extant branch of the Indo-European family of languages. ... The Eastern Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages emerging in Middle Iranian times (from ca. ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing the Arabic language, which is the language of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. ...

Pashto known in western literature as Bactrian has ancient origins and bears similarities to extinct languages such as Avestan.^[65] Its closest modern relatives include Pamir languages, such as Shughni and Wakhi, and Ossetic. Pashto has an ancient legacy of lexical similarities with neighboring languages such as Persian. Pashto has borrowed a few words from Arabic. Modern borrowings come primarily from English.^[66] Proto-Indo-European Indo-European studies The Bactrian language is an extinct language which was spoken in the Central Asian region of Bactria, also called Tocharistan, in northern Afghanistan. ... An extinct language is a language which no longer has any native speakers, in contrast to a dead language, which is is a language which has stopped changing in grammar, vocabulary, and the complete meaning of a sentence. ... Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. ... The Pamir languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages, spoken in the Pamir Mountains, primarily along the Panj River and its tributaries in the southern Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan around the administrative center Khorog ( ), and the neighboring Badakhshan province and is in Pamir Area Afghanistan. ... Shughni is one of the Pamir languages of the Southeastern Iranian language group. ... The Wakhi Tajiki language is an Iranian language in the subbranch of Southeastern Iranian languages (see Pamir languages). ... The Ethnolinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map Ossetic or Ossetian (Ossetic: or , Persian: اوسِتی) is an Iranian language spoken in Ossetia, a region on the slopes of the Caucasus mountains on the borders of Russia and Georgia. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Arabic redirects here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Fluency in Pashto is often the main determinant of group acceptance as to who is considered a Pashtun. Pashtun nationalism emerged following the rise of Pashto poetry that linked language and ethnic identity. This started with the work of Khushal Khan Khattak and continued with his grandson Afzal Khan (author of Tarikh-e Morassa, a history of the Pashtun people).^[66] Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolizing French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... This article is about the art form. ... Khushal Khan Khattak Khushal Khan Khattak (1613 - 1690) was a famous Afghan warrior, poet, and tribal chief of the Khattak tribe. ... Afzal Khan Khattak was a Pashtun poet and the grandson of Khushal Khan Khattak. ...

Pashto has national status in Afghanistan and regional status in Pakistan. In addition to their mother-tongue, many Pashtuns are fluent in Dari (Afghan Persian), Urdu and English. A national language is a language (or language variant, i. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country, be it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... Dari (Persian: ) is the official name for the Persian language in Afghanistan, popularly and locally known as Farsi. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ...

Religion

Main articles: Islam in Afghanistan and Islam in Pakistan

Most Pashtuns follow Sunni Islam, most of them its Hanafite branch. A small minority of Ithna Asharia Shia Pashtuns is largely concentrated in Afghanistan.^[67] Mazari Sharifs Blue Mosque is a magnificent and sacred structure of cobalt blue and turquoise minarets, attracting visitors and pilgrims throughout the world. ... Over 98% of 166 million peoples of Pakistan are Muslims and Islam is the State religion of Pakistan. ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... The Hanafi (Arabic حنفي) school is the oldest of the four schools of thought (Madhhabs) or jurisprudence (Fiqh) within Sunni Islam. ... Twelvers ( Ithnāˤashariyyah) are those Shiˤa Muslims who believe there were twelve Imāms, as distinct from Ismaili & Zaidi Shiite Muslims, who believe in a different number of Imams or in a different path of succession. ...

Studies conducted among the Ghilzai reveal strong links between tribal affiliation and membership in the larger ummah (Islamic community). Most Pashtuns believe that they are descendants of Qais Abdur Rashid who is purported to have been an early convert to Islam and thus bequeathed the faith to the Pashtun population.^[68] A legacy of Sufi activity remains common in Pashtun regions, as evident in song and dance. Many Pashtuns are prominent Ulema, Islamic scholars, such as Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan who translated the Noble Quran and Sahih Al-Bukhari and many other books to English.^[69] Lastly, non-Muslim Pashtuns are virtually non-existent as there is limited data regarding irreligious groups and minorities. The Ghilzais (also known as Khiljis or Ghaljis) are one of two largest groups of Pashtuns, along with the Durrani tribe, found in Afghanistan with a large group also found in neighboring Pakistan. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Qais Abdur Rashid is thought, among Pashtuns, to be the first Pashtun who traveled to Mecca and Madina during the early days of Islam. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to Divine love and the cultivation of the elements of the Divine within the individual human being. ... Ulema (, transliteration: , singular: , transliteration: , scholar) (The people of Islamic Knowledge) refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Muhammad Muhsin Khan (Arabic and Urdū: محمد محسن خان; born 1927) is a contemporary Saudi Salafi Islamic scholar, most notable for his English translation of Sahih Bukhari and the Quran. ... The Noble Quran, also known as Hilali-Khan, is a translation of the Quran by contemporary Saudi Sunni Salafi Islamic scholar Muhammad Muhsin Khan (Arabic: محمد محسن خان, muḥammad muḥsin khān) and Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali (Arabic: محمد تقي الدين الهلالي, muḥammad taqiyyu-d-dīn al-hilāl... The authentic collection (Arabic: الجامع الصحيح, al-Jaami al-Sahih [1]) or popularly al-Bukharis authentic (Arabic: صحيح البخاري, Sahih al-Bukhari) is one of the Sunni six major Hadith collections (Hadith are oral traditions recounting events in the lives of the Islamic prophet Muhammad ). Sunni view this as their most trusted collection. ... This section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Pashtunwali

Main article: Pashtunwali

The term "Pakhto" or "Pashto" from which the Pashtuns derive their name is not merely the name of their language, but is synonymous with a pre-Islamic honor code/religion formally known as Pashtunwali (or Pakhtunwali).^[70] Pashtunwali is believed to have originated millennia ago during pagan times and has, in many ways, fused with Islamic tradition.^[71] Pashtunwali governs and regulates nearly all aspects of Pashtun life ranging from tribal affairs to individual "honor" (nang) and behavior. Pashtunwali (Pashto: ) is a concept of living for the Pashtun people (also known as Pathans), which dates back to pre-Islamic eras. ... Pashtunwali (Pashto: ) is a concept of living for the Pashtun people (also known as Pathans), which dates back to pre-Islamic eras. ...

Numerous intricate tenets of Pashtunwali influence Pashtun social behavior. One of the better known tenets is Melmastia, hospitality and asylum to all guests seeking help. Perceived injustice calls for Badal, swift revenge. A popular Pashtun saying, "Revenge is a dish best served cold", was borrowed by the British and popularized in the West.^[72] Men are expected to protect Zan, Zar, Zameen, which translates to women, treasure, and land. Some aspects promote peaceful co-existence, such as Nanawati, the humble admission of guilt for a wrong committed, which should result in automatic forgiveness from the wronged party. These and other basic precepts of Pashtunwali continue to be followed by many Pashtuns, especially in rural areas. For other uses, see Revenge (disambiguation). ... Occident redirects here. ...

Pashto literature and media

Main article: Pashto media

Mahmud Tarzi, pioneer of journalism in Afghanistan, with his wife Asma Rasmiya.

Throughout Pashtun history, poets, prophets, kings and warriors have been among the most revered members of society. But for much of that history literature has not played a major role, because Persian was the literary lingua franca for neighboring peoples and was generally relied on for writing. Early written records of Pashto began to appear by the 16th century. The earliest describes Sheikh Mali's conquest of Swat.^[73] The advent of Pashto poetry and the revered works of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba in the 17th century helped transition Pashto to the modern period.^[74] In the 20th century, Pashto literature gained significant prominence with poetry by Ameer Hamza Shinwari who developed Pashto Ghazals.^[75] In 1919, Mahmud Tarzi published Seraj-al-Akhbar, which became the first newspaper in Afghanistan. His work was in Pashto and in Dari language, the country's other major language. This article contains the information about Pashto media. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mahmud Tarzi(1865-1933) was a notable Persian satirist, Afghanistani intellectual and journalist. ... Kelileh va Demneh Persian manuscript copy dated 1429, from Herat, depicts the Jackal trying to lead the Lion astray. ... Lingua franca, literally Frankish language in Italian, was originally a mixed language consisting largely of Italian plus a vocabulary drawn from Turkish, Persian, French, Greek and Arabic and used for communication throughout the Middle East. ... This article is about the former State of Swat in Pakistan. ... Khushal Khan Khattak Khushal Khan Khattak (1613 - 1690) was a famous Afghan warrior, poet, and tribal chief of the Khattak tribe. ... Rahman Baba (Pashto: رحمان بابا ) known as the Nightingale of Afghanistan and Pakhtoonkhwa, Rahman Baba is a legendary Pashto Sufi poet. ... b. ... Mahmud Tarzi(1865-1933) was a notable Persian satirist, Afghanistani intellectual and journalist. ... The term Dari derives from Fârsi-e Darbâri which means Persian of the (royal) courts. It developed at the royal courts of the Samanids (980 AD) in Central Asia and became the major language of Persia. ...

Recently, Pashto literature has received increased patronage, but many Pashtuns continue to rely on oral tradition due to relatively low literacy rates. Pashto media outlets also play a major role in everyday life. Several Pashto TV channels are available in Pashtun regions. The leading one is AVT Khyber, which keeps Pashtuns united and informed about everyday issues, and amused with entertainment programs.^[76] Oral tradition or oral culture is a way of transmitting history, literature or law from one generation to the next in a civilization without a writing system. ... Literacy is the ability to use text to communicate across space and time. ... This article contains the information about Pashto media. ... AVT Khyber or Khyber TV is a satellite television station in Pakistan, which was launched in July 2004. ...

Pashtun males continue to meet at chai khaanas, tea cafes, to listen and relate various oral tales of valor and history. Despite the general male dominance of Pashto oral story-telling, Pashtun society is also marked by some matriarchal tendencies.^[77] Folktales involving reverence for Pashtun mothers and matriarchs are common and are passed down from parent to child, as is most Pashtun heritage, through a rich oral tradition that has survived the ravages of time. “Storytelling is humanity’s oldest form of literacy. ... Matriarchy is a term, which is applied to gynocentric form of society, in which the leading role is by the female and especially by the mothers of a community. ... Oral tradition or oral culture is a way of transmitting history, literature or law from one generation to the next in a civilization without a writing system. ...

Sports

Traditional sports include naiza bazi, which involves horsemen who compete in spear throwing.^[78]

Polo is also an ancient traditional sport in the region and is a popular among many tribesmen such as the Yousafzai. Like other Afghans, many Pashtuns engage in wrestling (Pehlwani), which is often part of larger sporting events.^[79] Cricket is largely a legacy of British rule in the North-West Frontier Province, and many Pashtuns have become prominent participants, such as Shahid Afridi and Imran Khan.^[80] For other uses, see Polo (disambiguation). ... The Yusufzai (also Yousafzai, Esapzey, or Yusufi) (Urdu: یوسف زئی) are one of the largest Pashtun tribe. ... Pehlwani Modern wrestling, or Pehlwani , is a synthesis of an indigenous Aryan form of wrestling that dates back at least to the 5th century BC [1] and a Persian form of wrestling brought into South Asia by the Mughals. ... This article is about the sport. ... Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (Urdu: صاحبزادہ محمد شاہد خان آفریدی) (born 1 March 1980 in Khyber Agency to Pathan parents of the Afridi tribe in Kohat), popularly known as Shahid Afridi or by his nickname Boom Boom Afridi or The Beast, is a Pakistani cricketer currently playing for the Pakistani national team. ... For the cricketer from the West Indies, see Imran Khan (Trinidad and Tobago cricketer). ...

Football is a more recent sport that increasing numbers of Pashtuns have started to play. Children engage in various games including a form of marbles called buzul-bazi which is played with the knuckle bones of sheep. Although traditionally less involved in sports than boys, young Pashtun girls often play volleyball and basketball, especially in urban areas. Soccer redirects here. ... Hand-made marbles from West Africa Different glass marbles from a glass-mill For other uses, see Marbles (disambiguation). ... For the ball used in this sport, see Volleyball (ball). ... This article is about the sport. ...

Performing arts

Pashtun performers remain avid participants in various physical forms of expression including dance, sword fighting, and other physical feats. Perhaps the most common form of artistic expression can be seen in the various forms of Pashtun dances.

One of the most prominent dances is Attan, which has ancient pagan roots. It was later modified by Islamic mysticism in some regions and has become the national dance of Afghanistan.^[81] A rigorous exercise, Attan is performed as musicians play various native instruments including the dhol (drums), tablas (percussions), rubab (a bowed string instrument), and toola (wooden flute). With a rapid circular motion, dancers perform until no one is left dancing, similar to Sufi whirling dervishes. Numerous other dances are affiliated with various tribes including the Khattak Wal Atanrh (eponymously named after the Khattak tribe), Mahsood Wal Atanrh (which, in modern times, involves the juggling of loaded rifles), and Waziro Atanrh among others. A sub-type of the Khattak Wal Atanrh known as the Braghoni involves the use of up to three swords and requires great skill. Though most dances are dominated by males, some performances such as Spin Takray feature female dancers.^[82] Young women and girls often entertain at weddings with the Tumbal (tambourine). Pagan may refer to: A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism Bagan, a city in Myanmar also known as Pagan Pagan (album), the 6th album by Celtic metal band Cruachan Pagan Island, of the Northern Mariana Islands Pagan Lorn, a metal band from Luxembourg, Europe (1994-1998) Pagans Mind, is... The dhol (Punjabi: ਢੋਲ, ڈھول; Hindustani: ढोल, ڈھول; Armenian: Դոլ) dohol (Persian: ), is a drum (a percussion musical instrument) widely used in India and Pakistan, usually the Punjab region, the Indian/Pakistani province of Punjab, Maharastra and Gujarat. ... The tabla (Hindi: तब्ला, tablā, Urdu: تبلہ) is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. ... The rubab (also spelled rubāb) is a plucked string instrument from Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... A cello bow In music, a bow is a device pulled across the strings of a string instrument in order to make them vibrate and emit sound. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to Divine love and the cultivation of the elements of the Divine within the individual human being. ... Whirling Dervishes perform near the Mevlevi Museum in Konya, Turkey. ... Khattak or Khatak (Urdu: خٹک ) is a Pashtun tribe. ...

Traditional Pashtun music has ties to Klasik (traditional Afghan music heavily inspired by Hindustani classical music), Iranian musical traditions, and other various forms found in South Asia. Popular forms include the ghazal (sung poetry) and Sufi qawwali music.^[83] Themes revolve around love and religious introspection. Modern Pashto music is centered around the city of Peshawar due to the wars in Afghanistan, and tends to combine indigenous techniques and instruments with Iranian-inspired Persian music and Indian Filmi music prominent in Bollywood.^[84] Well known Pashto singers include Rahim Shah and Nazia Iqbal and many others.^[85] The classical music of Afghanistan is called klasik, which includes both instrumental (ragas, naghmehs) and vocal forms (ghazals) . Many ustad, or professional musicians, are descended from Indian artists who emigrated to the royal court in Kabul in the 1860s upon the invitation of Amir Sher Ali Khan . ... Since the 1980s, Afghanistan has been involved in near constant violence. ... Hindustani Classical Music is an Indian classical music tradition that took shape in northern India in the 13th and 14th centuries AD from existing religious, folk, and theatrical performance practices. ... Figurines playing stringed instruments, excavated at Susa, 3rd millennium BC. Iran National Museum. ... This article is about the poetic form. ... Qawwali (Urdu: قوٌالی, Hindi: क़वाली) is the devotional music of the Chishti Sufis of the Indian Subcontinent. ...   (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. ... Moosiqi Asil or Persian music is the traditional and indigenous music of Persia and Persian-speaking countries: musiqi, the science and art of music, and moosiqi, the sound and performance of music (Sakata 1983). ... Timeline and Samples Genres Classical (Carnatic and Hindustani) - Folk - Rock - Pop - Hip hop Awards Bollywood Music Awards - Punjabi Music Awards Charts Festivals Sangeet Natak Akademi – Thyagaraja Aradhana – Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Media Sruti, The Music Magazine National anthem Jana Gana Mana, also national song Vande Mataram Music of the states Andaman... Bollywood (Hindi: , Urdu: ) is the informal term popularly used for Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. ... Rahim Shah (Pashto / Urdu: رحیم شاہ) is a famous Pakistani pop singer of Pashtun ethnic backgrounds. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Other modern Pashtun media include an established Pashto-language film and television industry that is based in Pakistan. Producers based in Lahore have created Pashto-language films since the 1970s. Pashto films were once popular, but have declined both commercially and critically in recent years.^[86] Past films such as Yusuf Khan Sherbano dealt with serious subject matter, traditional stories, and legends, but since the 1980s the Pashto film industry has been accused of churning out increasingly lewd exploitation-style films.^[87][88] Pashtun lifestyle and issues have been raised by Western and Pashtun expatriate film-makers in recent years. One such film is In This World by British film-maker Michael Winterbottom,^[89] which chronicles the struggles of two Afghan youths who leave their refugee camps in Pakistan and try to move to the United Kingdom in search of a better life. Another is the British mini-series Traffik, re-made as the American film Traffic, which featured a Pashtun man (played by Jamal Shah) struggling to survive in a world with few opportunities outside the drug trade.^[90] Ethnic conflict between Pashtuns and other Afghans such as Hazaras was examined in the best-selling novel The Kite Runner, which was made into a major motion picture that was banned in Afghanistan due to fears that it would incite violence.^[91]   (Urdu: لاہور, Punjabi: لہور, pronounced ) is the capital of the Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. ... Grindhouse redirects here. ... In This World DVD cover In This World is a 2002 British docu-drama directed by Michael Winterbottom. ... Michael Winterbottom (b. ... bjhgfshudgfgbfsfas Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A camp in Guinea for refugees from Sierra Leone. ... Traffik is a 1989 television miniseries which tells the story of illegal drug trade. ... Traffic is an award-winning 2000 crime/drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh. ... Jamal Shah (Pashto: جمال شاہ) is an artist. ... The Hazaras. ... For other uses, see Novel (disambiguation). ... The Kite Runner is the first novel by Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini. ... The Kite Runner is a 2007 film directed by Marc Forster based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini. ...

Tribes

Main article: Pashtun Tribes

Elders are important people in the Pashtun society and often make decisions for the community.

A prominent institution of the Pashtun people is the intricate system of tribes. The Pashtuns remain a predominantly tribal people, but the world-wide trend of urbanization has begun to alter Pashtun society as cities such as Peshawar and Quetta have grown rapidly due to the influx of rural Pashtuns and Afghan refugees.^[92] Despit this trend of urbanization, many people still identify themselves with various clans. The Pashtun tribes are divided into four larger tribal confederacies: Sarbani Yusafzai Tarkalani Mohmand Mohammadzai Batani Niazi Ghilzai Lodhi Suri Marwat Lohani Nuhrani Ghourghushti Kakar Mando Jadoon Safi Karlani or Karlanri Mahsud Waziri khattak Afridi Orakzai Dawar Bangash // The Tanolies (also spelt Tanauli, Tanawali) are a prominent and famous Muslim... For other uses, see Clan (disambiguation). ...

The tribal system has several levels of organization: the tribe, tabar, is divided into kinship groups called khels, in turn divided into smaller groups (pllarina or plarganey), each consisting of several extended families called kahols.^[93] "A large tribe often has dozens of sub-tribes whose members may see themselves as belonging to each, some, or all of the sub-tribes in different social situations (co-operative, competitive, confrontational) and identify with each accordingly."^[93] Pashtun tribes are divided into four 'greater' tribal groups: Sarbans, Batans, Ghurghusht and Karlans. Tabar is Pashtun tribal organization. ... Khel is part of Pashtun tribal name signifying thier sub-tribe. ... Pllarina or Plarganey is sub-tribal layer in Pashtun tribal organization. ... Kahols is the smallest layer in Pashtun tribal organization. ... Qais Abdur Rashid is thought, among Pashtuns, to be the first Pashtun who traveled to Mecca and Madina during the early days of Islam. ... Sarbans are a tribal group of Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... Ghorghushti refers to the Pashtun sub-tribes that are descended from Ghorghusht, one of Qais Abdur Rashids sons. ...

Another prominent Pashtun institution is the Jirga or 'Senate' of elected elder men. Most decisions in tribal life are made by members of the Jirga, which is the main institution of authority that the largely egalitarian Pashtuns willingly acknowledge as a viable governing body.^[94] A jirga (occasionally jirgah) is a tribal assembly which takes decisions by consensus. ... The term Elder (or its equivalent in another language) is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority. ...

Pashtun celebrations and special events are also often national holidays in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A common Turko-Iranian New Year called Nouruz is often observed by Pashtuns.^[95] Most prominent are Muslim holidays including Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Muslim holidays tend to be the most widely observed and commercial activity can come to a halt as large extended families gather in what is often both a religious duty and a festive celebration. The composite Turko-Persian tradition was a variant of Islamic culture. ... Persepolis all nations stair case. ... Muslim holidays generally celebrate the events of the life of Islams main prophet, Muhammad, especially the events surrounding the first hearing of the Kuran. ... This article is about religious observances during the month of Ramadan. ... Eid ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. ... Extended family (or joint family) is a term with several distinct meanings. ...

Women

The lives of Pashtun women vary from those who reside in conservative rural areas, such as the tribal belt, to those found in relatively freer urban centers.^[96] Though many Pashtun women remain tribal and illiterate, others have become educated and gainfully employed.^[96] The ravages of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the Afghan wars, leading to the rise and fall of the Taliban, caused considerable hardship among Pashtun women, as many of their rights were curtailed in favor of a rigid interpretation of Islamic law. The difficult lives of Afghan female refugees gained considerable notoriety with the iconic image of the so-called "Afghan Girl" (Sharbat Gula) depicted on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic magazine.^[97] The male-dominated code of Pashtunwali often constrains women and forces them into designated traditional roles that separate the genders.^[98] The pace of change and reform for women has been slow due to the wars in Afghanistan and the isolation and instability of tribal life in Pakistan. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are areas of Pakistan outside the four provinces, comprising a region of some 27,220 km² (10,507 mi²). // The FATA are bordered by: Afghanistan to the west with the border marked by the Durand Line, the North-West Frontier Province and the Punjab... CCCP redirects here. ... Wars during the history of Afghanistan include: First Anglo-Afghan War (from 1839 to 1842) Second Anglo-Afghan War (from 1878 to 1879) Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (from 1979 to 1989) U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (2001) See also Afghan Wars Invasions of Afghanistan This... Wahhabism (Arabic: Al-Wahhābīyya الوهابية) or Wahabism is a conservative 18th century reform movement of Sunni Islam founded by Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, after whom the movement is named. ... Sharbat Gula (Pashto: شربت ګله flower-juice girl) (Sharbat is pronounced ) (born ca. ... The National Geographic Magazine, later shortened to National Geographic, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. ... Wars during the history of Afghanistan include: First Anglo-Afghan War (from 1839 to 1842) Second Anglo-Afghan War (from 1878 to 1879) Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (from 1979 to 1989) U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (2001) See also Afghan Wars Invasions of Afghanistan This...

Modern social reform for Pashtun women began in the 20th century. During the early 20th century, Queen Soraya Tarzi of Afghanistan was an early feminist leader whose advocacy of social reforms for women was so radical that it led to the fall of her and her husband King Amanullah's dynasty.^{[99][dead link]} Abandoning the Wardrobe and Reclaiming Religion in the Discourse on Afghan Women's Islamic Rights], Leela Jacinto, ^[100] Civil rights remained an important issue during the tumultuous Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, as feminist leader Meena Keshwar Kamal campaigned for women's rights and founded the Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) in the 1980s.^[101] Queen Soraya Tarzi of Afghanistan Her Majesty Queen Soraya Tarzi (Pashto: ملکه ثريا) (b. ... Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... King Amanullah Khan Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (June 1, 1892 - April 25, 1960) was the ruler of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... Meena Meena Keshwar Kamal (commonly known as simply Meena) was an Afghani civil rights activist born 27 February 1956 in Kabul. ...

Today, Pashtun women vary from the traditional housewives who live in seclusion to urban workers, some of whom seek or have attained parity with men.^[96] But due to numerous social hurdles, the literacy rate remains considerably lower for Pashtun females than for males.^[102][103] Abuse against women is widespread and increasingly being challenged by women's rights organizations which find themselves struggling with conservative religious groups as well as government officials in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to researcher Benedicte Grima's book Performance of Emotion Among Paxtun Women, "a powerful ethic of forbearance severely limits the ability of traditional Pashtun women to mitigate the suffering they acknowledge in their lives."^[104]

A Pashtun woman in Afghanistan.

Pashtun women often have their legal rights curtailed in favor of their husbands or male relatives. For example, though women are officially allowed to vote in Afghanistan and Pakistan, many have been kept away from ballot boxes by males.^[105] Traditionally, Pashtun women have few inheritance rights and are often charged with taking care of large extended families of their spouses.^[106] Another tradition that persists is swara, the giving of a female relative to someone in order to rectify a dispute. It was declared illegal in Pakistan in 2000 but continues in tribal regions.^[107] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1960x3008, 1575 KB) A close up of an Afghan girl from the Pashtun tribe in Kabul, Afghanistan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1960x3008, 1575 KB) A close up of an Afghan girl from the Pashtun tribe in Kabul, Afghanistan. ... The term womens suffrage refers to an economic and political reform movement aimed at extending suffrage — the right to vote — to women. ... Clear sided ballot boxes used in the Haitian general election in 2006. ...

Despite obstacles, many Pashtun women have begun a process of slow change. A rich oral tradition and resurgence of poetry has inspired many Pashtun women seeking to learn to read and write.^[77] Further challenging the status quo, Vida Samadzai was selected as Miss Afghanistan in 2003, a feat that was received with a mixture of support from those who back the individual rights of women and those who view such displays as anti-traditionalist and un-Islamic. Many Pashtun women have attained high political office in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, following recent elections, the proportion of female political representatives is one of the highest in the world.^[108] Pashtun women are now TV hosts, journalists, actors and singers on AVT Khyber and other Pashto TV outlets.^[76] A Pashtun woman, Khatol Mohammadzai, recently became a paratrooper in the Afghan National Army and another became a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force.^[109] Vida Samadzai (born 1980) is Miss Afghanistan 2003. ... Vida Samadzai (born 1980) is the current Miss Afghanistan. ... Look up host in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... AVT Khyber or Khyber TV is a satellite television station in Pakistan, which was launched in July 2004. ... For the game, see Paratrooper (video game). ... Afghan National Army (ANA) is a service branch of the Military of Afghanistan, which is currently being trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the lead in land-based military operations. ... For other uses, see Aviator (disambiguation). ... Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ, Pak Fazaya) (PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. ...

Substantial work remains for Pashtun women to gain equal rights with men, who remain disproportionately dominant in most aspects of Pashtun society. Human rights organizations continue to struggle for greater women's rights, such as the Afghan Women's Network and the Aurat Foundation in Pakistan which aims to protect women from domestic violence.^[110][111] Due to recent reforms in the higher education commission (HEC) of Pakistan, a number of competent Pashtun female scholars have been able to win Masters and PhD scholarships. Most of them have proceeded to USA, UK and other developed countries with support from their families. Equal Rights redirects here. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... The term women’s rights typically refers to freedoms inherently possessed by women and girls of all ages, which may be institutionalized or ignored and/or illegitimately suppressed by law or custom in a particular society. ... The Afghan Womens Network was created in 1996 by Afghan women following the World Conference on Women in Beijing and works to, empower women and ensure their equal participation in Afghan society. ... Aurat Foundation is womens rights organization based in Islamabad, Pakistan. ... Domestic disturbance redirects here. ... PhD usually refers to the academic title Doctor of Philosophy PhD can also refer to the manga Phantasy Degree This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Pashtuns

• Pakhtunkhwa
• Pashtun diaspora
• Pashtunization

Pakhtunkhwa or Pashtunkhwa (Urdu: پختون خواہ) a name used historically by Pashtun leaders for the Pashtun areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... The Pashtuns (Pashto: پښتون) or Pathans (Urdu: پٹھان, Hindi: पठान) have many communities world-wide. ...

Notes and references

• Note: population statistics for Pashtuns (including those without a notation) in foreign countries were derived from various census counts, the UN, the CIA World Factbook and Ethnologue.

UN redirects here. ... The World Factbook (ISSN 1553-8133; also known as the CIA World Factbook)[2] is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. ... Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics), a Christian linguistic service organization which studies lesser-known languages primarily to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... Crouse College, a 19th-century Romanesque building which houses the universitys visual arts and music programs Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States the geographic center of the state, about 250 miles northwest of New York City. ... The Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI) is the standard encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies. ... Encyclopædia Iranica is a project of Columbia University started in 1974 at its Center for Iranian (Persian) Studies with the goal to create a comprehensive and authoritiative English language encyclopedia about the history, culture, and civilization of Iranian peoples from prehistory to modern times. ... Ehsan Yarshater, of Columbia University, is one of the worlds leading Iranologists. ... Alma Mater Columbia University is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. ... Canon George Rawlinson (23 November 1812 – 7 October 1902), was a 19th century English scholar and historian. ... The Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI) is the standard encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ... Progress Publishers was a Moscow-based publisher noted for its English-language editions of books on Marxist and Leninist theory. ... Firishta or Ferishta (c. ... The Packard Humanities Institute is a non-profit foundation located in Los Altos, California, which funds projects in a wide range of conservation concerns in the fields of archaeology, music, film preservation, and historic conservation. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... The International House of Chicago is a graduate and professional student dormitory on the campus of the University of Chicago. ... For other uses, see University of Chicago (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ... Website http://www. ... State Street Village, S.R. Crown Hall, Armour Main Building Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private Ph. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... AVT Khyber or Khyber TV is a satellite television station in Pakistan, which was launched in July 2004. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... ... The University of Texas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Texas at Austin. ... State Street Village, S.R. Crown Hall, Armour Main Building Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private Ph. ...

Further reading and external links