The Pashtun people

Pashtun people

Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...

 are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a multiethnic society. The population of the country is divided into a wide variety of ethnolinguistic groups. The ethnic groups of the country are as follow: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Aimak, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Arab, Brahui, Pamiri and some others.-Ethnic...

 and the second largest in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. Pashtun, (also called ethnic Afghan) tribes are divided into four supertribal confederacies: the Arbanee (Sarabani), Betanee (Baitani), Gharghasht, and Karlanee (Krai, Kerlani).

Traditionally, according to folklore

Folklore

Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...

, all Pashtuns are said to have descended, at the time of the introduction of Islam

Islam

Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

, from the tribe of Qais Abdur Rashid

Qais Abdur Rashid

Qais Abdur Rashid Khan , also known as Kesh, Kish, Qesh and Imraul Qais is a legendary ancestor of the Pashtun race, claimed to be the first ethnic Pashtun who travelled to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia during the early days of Islam.) He is believed to be the 37th descendent of King Saul .He...

, who died in 662 CE, and his three sons: Saraban, Batan and Ghurghusht.ʻAbbās Khān Sarvānī (1974) Tārīḵẖ-i-Śēr Śāhī (translated from the original Persian by Brahmadeva Prasad Ambashthya) K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna, India, pages 58-62, Karrān or Karlān was said to be the ancestor of the fourth branch. Estimates of the number of Pashtun tribes and clans range from about 350 to over 400.

• Babar
  Babar (tribe)
  The Babar tribe is a Pakhtun tribe descending from Sarban, a son of Qais Abdur Rashid along with other tribes such as the Yusafzais, Tareens, Durranis and Mohmands....
  
  
• Jalwaanai
• Barais (Barech)
• Baayer
• Oormar
• Jadoon
  Jadoon
  The Jadoons are one of the largest Pashtun tribes in Pakistan. They originate from Jallalabad and are now located in the southern Hazara Division area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa, Pakistan, partly in Gadoon area in Swabi on the southern slopes of Mahaban Mountains, and partly in Abbottabad District...
  
   (Gadoon)
• Tareen
  Tareen
  The Tareen are a prominent Sarbanri Pashtun tribe residing in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. They are one of the largest Pashtun tribes.-History:...
  
   (Tarin)
• Gharshin
• Lawaanai
• Popalzai
  Popalzai
  Popalzai or Popalzay are Durrani Pashtuns.-Origin:According to Hyat Khan's history of Afghanistan, from their progenitor Bor Tareen, otherwise known as Abdal, are descended two main divisions: the Zirak and the Panjpai...
  
  
• Baamizai
• Sadozai
  Sadozai (Pastun tribe)
  Sadozai meaning "kings" are the direct lineage of Ahmad Shah Abdali. All the notable Sadozai Durrani Afghan kings and rulers belonedg to the Sadozai tribe....
  
  
• Alikozai
• Mohammadzai (Zeerak)
• Achakzai
  Achakzai
  Achakzai are Durrani primarily found in southern Afghanistan and northern regions of Balochistan Province, Pakistan.-Demographics:Achakzais of Afghanistan are mainly located in Spin Boldak, Reg, Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan and Herat...
  
   (Assakzai)
• Noorzai
  Noorzai
  SHARIEF KHAN NOORZAI IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFULL PASHTONS LEADER IN THE WHOLE AFGHANISTAN AND HE IS FROM THE THE TRIBE 'Noorzai or Nurzai and are one of the biggest tribes of the Pushtoon, with a population of roughly 4.5 million in Afghanistan. They are an influential tribe in southern and...
  
  
• Saakzai
• Maako
• Kashmiryan (kashmiri)
• Tanoli
  Tanoli
  The Tanoli are a Hazarewal tribe of the Tanawal valley, Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Although not usually acknowledged as Pashtuns, the Tanoli have to an extent assimilated many Pashtun cultural features and become Pashtunified. Tribally allied with the Pathans,. The...
  
  
• Yousufzai
• Atmaanzai (Utmanzai)
• Raanizai
• Mandan
• Tarkanri
• Khalil
  Khalil (tribe)
  Khalil is a Pashtun tribe living in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the Peshawar valley, west and south-west of Daudzai lie the settlements of the Khalils. These are bounded on the south by the Bara stream. The Khalils like Mohmands and Daudzais claim to be descendants of Sultan Ibrahim Ghauri, son...
  
  
• Daudzai
• Zamaryanai
• Zeranai
• Mohmand
  Mohmand
  The Mohmand are a clan of Sarban Pashtuns, living primarily in the FATA & Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan & northeastern Afghanistan.- Demographics :...
  
   (Momand)
• Kheshgai (Khaishagi)
• Kaasi
• sherani
• Shinwari
• Gagyanai
• Salarzai
  Salarzai
  Salarzais, along with the Kakazai and Wur, are one of the four clans of Tarkanis. There were around 8,000 members in the Babukarrah and Charmung valleys in Bajaur and 150 members in Bara Banda of Nowshera District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 1910....
  
  
• Malgoorai
• Shilmani
  Shilmani
  The Shilmani or Shalmani شلمانى are a Sarbanri Pashtun tribe who are primarily concentrated in the Shalman valley in Khyber agency near Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, the tribe is also present in different areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.In Pakistan, they live in Swat, Upper...
  
  

Ghorgasht (Gharghakht)

• Babai
  Babai (tribe)
  Babai is a Pashtun tribe. This tribe lives mostly in Quetta, Pakistan and Zabol Province, Afghanistan....
  
  
• Kakar
  Kakar
  The Kakar are a Pashtun tribe, with members living in Afghanistan and Pakistan.-Kakar :Kakar Afghan was one of the grandsons of Qais Abdur Rashid. Kakar's father's name was Dani, son of Gharghasht, who was the son of Qais in the Afghan appendix of tribes. According to Afghan and Muslim historians,...
  
  
• Naghar
  Naghar
  Naghar ia a small village, located in Bageshwar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is about 25 kilometer away from its district headquarter in Haldwani–Dharamghar road. Naghar is located on the bank of Pungar river .The whole valley is known as “Pungar Valley” or “Dugpatti”. You...
  
   (Ans, Terk, Parman, Damsan, Abdul Rahman,Saleh)
• Panee (Panri) (Barozai, Zarkoon, Luni, Musakhail, Abdullahkhail, Habibzai, Marghazani, Dehpal, Mzari etc.)
• Dawi (According to history he was brother of Kakar,Naghar,Pani and Babie)
• Hamar
  Hamar
  is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
  
  
• Doomar (Dumarr)
• Khondai
• Jadoon
  Jadoon
  The Jadoons are one of the largest Pashtun tribes in Pakistan. They originate from Jallalabad and are now located in the southern Hazara Division area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa, Pakistan, partly in Gadoon area in Swabi on the southern slopes of Mahaban Mountains, and partly in Abbottabad District...
  
   (Gadoon)
• Masakhel (Musakhail)
• Sapai or Safai (Safi)
• Mashwanai
• Zmarai (Mzarai)
• Shalman
  Shalman
  Shalmaneser is documented by The Bible as an Assyrian king , identified with Shalmaneser II or IV , the successor of Pul on the throne of Assyria . He made war against Hoshea , the king of Israel, whom he subdued and compelled to pay an annual tribute. Hoshea, however, soon after rebelled against...
  
  
• Mandokhail

Karlanee (Kerlani)

• Roadh Bai
• Dilazak
• Mangal
  Mangal (tribe)
  The Mangal are one of the largest and perhaps the most powerful and influential Pashtun tribes, residing in Southeastern Paktia and adjacent Khost provinces of Afghanistan The Mangals are known for their independent nature, and have a long history of resisting British forces, central and provincial...
  
  
• Kakai
• Torai or Turi
• Hanee
• Wardak (Verdag)
• Aurakzai (Orakzai)
• Afridi
  Afridi
  Afridi of rough hilly area in the eastern Safed Koh range, west of the Peshawar Valley and east of Torkham, and Maidan in Tirah, which can be accessed by the Kajurhi plains and the valleys of Bara and Churah in Pakistan...
  
   or Apridee
• Khattak
  Khattak
  Khattak or Khatak , is the name of an Afghan tribe. speaking a variant of the Kandahari Pashto. They are accorded the status of being one of the original and true Afghans. The tribe is settled along the western bank of the river Indus from as north upwards as Sammah; modern day Lund Khwar & Sher...
  
  
• Khakwani
  Khogyani (tribe)
  The Khogyani tribe is a Pashtun tribe of the Karlani or "Hill Tribes" branch. The tribe originated from the Khogyani District along the Koh-i-Safed mountain range in Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan...
  
   (Khogyani)
• Sheetak
• Bolaaq
• Zadran (Jadran)
• Wazir
  Wazir (tribe)
  Wazirs or Waziris are a Pashtun tribe settled in the North Waziristan and South Waziristan agencies of Pakistan as well in the urban cities of Tank, F.R Bannu,i.e Domel and adjacent villages, Karachi and Lahore. Across the border, they can also be found in Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces of...
  
  
• Masid (Mahsud
  Mahsud
  Mahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
  
  )
• Daur (Dawar
  Dawar
  Dawar or Dawar Bakhsh, which means "God Given" was the ruler of the Moghul Empire for a short time between 1627-1628, immediately after the death of his grandfather Jahangir . It was the title given to 'Bulaki' on his accession to the Moghul throne...
  
  )
• Sataryanai
• Gaarai
• Bangash
  Bangash
  Bangash is the name of a Pashtun clan. The Bangash clan inhabit regions within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas , the Kurram Agency, the Miranzai Valley bordering the Samana Range, Naryab, Tirah, Kohat and Peshawar within the Sarhad province...
  
  
• Banosee (Banuchi)
• Zazai (Jaji)
• Gorbuz
• Khostwaal
• Atmaankhel (Utmankhail)
• Muqbal

Betanee

The Betanee, Baitani or Bhittani include:

• Tokhi
  Tokhi
  Tokhi is an influential Ghilzai Pashtun tribe found throughout southern, western Afghanistan. In the Pashtun tribal hierarchy Tokhi is one of the most respected tribes.They are wholly powerful, rich and widely considered to be one of the most brave, warlike and tough Pashtun tribes, concurrently...
  
  
• Sahaak
• Tarakai
  Tarakai
  The Tarakai are a Ghilzai Pashtun tribe; many are found in Ghazni and Zabol provinces of Afghanistan. They are divided into six khels: the Firoz, Suhail, Gurbuz, Badin, Saki, and Na....
  
  
• Andar
  Andar tribe
  The Andar are a Ghilzai Pashtun sub-tribe. The Andar had been known for their skill and usage of large karez . More concentrated in Ghazni Province, they have also a significant presence in Paktia. During the 19th century they joined in the Ghilzai revolt and many were summarily sent into internal...
  
  
• Suleiman Khel
  Suleiman Khel
  The Suleiman Khel are a Pashtun sub-tribe of the Ghilzai confederation. In the early 20th century, the tribe was recognised as generally pastoral.In 1924, the Suleiman Khel joined in the Khost Rebellion initiated by the Mangal tribe....
  
   (Suleimankhail)
• Hotak
  Hotak
  Hotak is an Afghan royal family name among the Pashtun people.The Hotaki started long ago as a rich and well known political family. The first king to take power in Kandahar, Afghanistan, was Mirwais Hotak . After his death many different Hotakis took the power of the throne, such as Mahmud...
  
  
• Akakhel
• Nasar
  Nasar
  Nasar , originally baptized Basil , was a distinguished Byzantine military leader in the Byzantine–Arab conflicts of the latter half of the 9th century....
  
  
• Kharotai
• Bakhtiar
  Bakhtiar
  Bakhtiār or Bakhtiyār , also spelled as Bakhtyar, Baxtiyar, Baxtiyor and Bahtiyar, is a Persian given name for boys, popular in Iran, Central Asia, and among the Muslims of South Asia...
  
  
• Marwat
  Marwat
  Marwat مروت, refers to a Pashtun tribe, located primarily in Lakki Marwat District in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan as well the districts of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan...
  
  
• Ahmadzai
  Ahmadzai
  Aḥmadzai is a Pashtun tribe. There are many separate and distinct clans, sub-clans, tribal fractions, large families etc. that trace their ancestry to different Aḥmads.-Afghanistan:...
  
  
• Tarai
• Dotanai (Dotani)
• Taran
  Taran
  - Given name :* Taran, a 7th century king of the Picts* Taran Taran, founder of the Taran Panth religious sect* Taran Adarsh, an Indian film critic* Taran Killam, an American comic actor* Taran Noah Smith, an actor...
  
  
• Lodi
• Chamkani
  Chamkani
  Chamkani is not only the name of a village Infact Chamknai is a sub tribe of Pashto speeking people. This tribe belongs to Afghanistan. "Khalid Bin Waleed" is also associated with this tribe....
  
  
• Niazi
  Niazi
  The Niazi are a tribe of Ghilzai Pashtun people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The name Niazi is derived from Niazai, like the other forms of Pashtun tribes, such as Yusufzai and Orakzai...
  
  
• Soor
• Sherwani
  Sherwani
  Sherwani is a long coat-like garment worn in South Asia, very similar to an Achkan or doublet, and is traditionally associated with the Muslim aristocracy of the northern Indian subcontinent....
  
  
• Gandapur
  Gandapur
  The Gandapurs are a Pashtun tribe inhabiting the environs of Dera Ismail Khan, a major commercial center on the west bank of the Indus River, in the southern region of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa of Pakistan, near the frontier with South Waziristan. The Gandapurs reside principally in the small town of...
  
  
• Daulat Khail
• Kundi Ali Khail
• Dasoo Khail
• Jaafar
• Ostranai (Ustarana)
• Loohanai
• Miankhail
• Sheranai
• Khasoor
• Stanikzai

A

Tribe	Subtribes	Clans of Tribe	Division of Clans	Subdivsion	Section of Subdivision	Minor Fractions	Other Fractions
Afridi	Darra Adam Khel	Gallai	[zwaqai][Hassan khel][Asho khel]
	Tirah Adam Khel	Kala Khel & Jawaki Bazi Khel	Babar Khel, Karmo khel, Dadar khel, Marsid khel	Babar khel, Gawar khel, Khwaja khel, sarwar khel	Gulbay khel,Farid Khel	Sobat khan tabar Shero, tabar Awyon	Koregar, Noyon, Kashmiryan,
			Tor Sapar	Feroz Khel
	Aka Khel	Kamal Khel	Basi Khel	Mirghat Khel	Adili Khel
	Kuki Khel	Abdal Khel
		Mitha Khan Khel	Hassan Khel	Kattia Khel	Futteh Khel
					Mohmand Khel	Dildar Khel	Behram Kor	Adala Kor
				Mannia Khel	Mashi Khel	Feroz Khel
	Kambar Khel	Dray Plari	Zona Khel	Zapari
	Kamar Khel
	Malikdeen Khel
	Sipah	Urmuz Khel	Abdul Khel
		Landi Khel	Abdul Rahman Khel
Zakha Khel	Budai	Pakhai	Hassan Khel	Nikki Khel	Ahmad Khel