Safi Clan
Encyclopedia
Safi is a major branch of the greater Gharghasht Pashtun
tribe, originating in the Kohi Safi
district of Parwan province, and also makes up majority in the Pech Valley of Kunar
, Afghanistan
. Safi clans are said to have inhabited mainly region Kunar Province. Currently Safi tribesmen are all around Afghanistan and include the founder of Safi Airways and the Safi Landmark Hotel. The name is pronounced 'Saapai' in original Pashto. The Safi are divided into 3 main clans. The three major clans are the Ghorbaz, the Masawad and the Wadir .The exact population number of this clan is not known; however, it is estimated to be around 2.5 million, both in Afghanistan and in Federally Administered Tribal Areas(Teh Safi) of Pakistan. Safis have played an important role in the Afghan
society, especially in Afghan Governments and also were known to be against the kings. The Safis have had an important role on the other side of the Durand Line
as well. On September 10, 2007 Safi elders of Mohmand Agency
played an important role on reaching an agreement with Taliban fighters to stop attacks on Pakistani military, security forces, and government installations such as schools, and hospitals, etc. in Mohmand Agency.
, when a major war broke out in 1668. A rebellion was sparked by a general in the ranks of the Mughal Empire
who had insulted a woman of this clan; in revenge Safi tribesmen killed the General
. When news reached Aurangzeb
that his general was killed, he appealed to the tribe to hand over the killers, but the elders refused and challenged the Emperor
. Soon Aurangzeb set out with a large force against the Safi and their allies from among other Khattak
,Afridis, Shinwari
, Mohmand
s in the command of Khushal Khan Khattak
which was at that time the tribal chief of Khattak tribe. Afghan sources claim that Aurangzeb suffered a humiliating defeat, with a reported loss of 40,000 Mughal soldiers. Currently the Safi tribe is well known for resistance to the Taliban regime, and many fierce clashes have broken out between the two. Some Safi tribesmen also inhabit Balochistan Province, Pakistan, in Sibi District, with two sub clans: the Meerzai and Kamalzai. Safi are also living in Zobh District. In Balochistan they are together under Safi Ithad and their office is located at Mizan Chock in Mizan Plaza quetta. In Sibi, Safi have the lion share of water, 8 Pao of water in Nari River.
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...
tribe, originating in the Kohi Safi
Kohi Safi
Kohi Safi or Sapi Ghar is now one major historical district located in South-eastern Parwan province, Kohi Safi district is one of the most single districts where almost all of the region is populated by Safi tribe...
district of Parwan province, and also makes up majority in the Pech Valley of Kunar
Kunar Province
Kunar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country. Its capital is Asadabad. It is one of the four "N2KL" provinces...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Safi clans are said to have inhabited mainly region Kunar Province. Currently Safi tribesmen are all around Afghanistan and include the founder of Safi Airways and the Safi Landmark Hotel. The name is pronounced 'Saapai' in original Pashto. The Safi are divided into 3 main clans. The three major clans are the Ghorbaz, the Masawad and the Wadir .The exact population number of this clan is not known; however, it is estimated to be around 2.5 million, both in Afghanistan and in Federally Administered Tribal Areas(Teh Safi) of Pakistan. Safis have played an important role in the Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
society, especially in Afghan Governments and also were known to be against the kings. The Safis have had an important role on the other side of the Durand Line
Durand Line
The Durand Line refers to the porous international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has divided the ethnic Pashtuns . This poorly marked line is approximately long...
as well. On September 10, 2007 Safi elders of Mohmand Agency
Mohmand Agency
The Mohmand Agency is a district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan created in 1951. Before that, the Mohmand Tribes were administered by the Deputy Commissioner based in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. However it was not until 1973 that the headquarters of...
played an important role on reaching an agreement with Taliban fighters to stop attacks on Pakistani military, security forces, and government installations such as schools, and hospitals, etc. in Mohmand Agency.
History
Safi clans are said to be among the earliest Gharghasht who adopted Islam. Throughout Afghan history, the Safi have been mentioned, most famously during resistance against AurangzebAurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, when a major war broke out in 1668. A rebellion was sparked by a general in the ranks of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
who had insulted a woman of this clan; in revenge Safi tribesmen killed the General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. When news reached Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
that his general was killed, he appealed to the tribe to hand over the killers, but the elders refused and challenged the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
. Soon Aurangzeb set out with a large force against the Safi and their allies from among other 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...
,Afridis, Shinwari
Shinwari
The Shinwari are an ethnic Pashtun tribe of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.In Pakistan, this tribe is active in trade, commerce, poetry, administrators and politicians within the Pakistani government; the majority are based in the Landi Kotal region of the Federally Administered Tribal...
, Mohmand
Mohmand
The Mohmand are a clan of Sarban Pashtuns, living primarily in the FATA & Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan & northeastern Afghanistan.- Demographics :...
s in the command of Khushal Khan Khattak
Khushal Khan Khattak
Khushal Khan Khattak was a prominent Pashtun malik, poet, warrior,A charismatic personality and tribal chief of the Khattak tribe. He wrote a huge collection of Pashto poems during the Mughal Empire in the 17th century, and admonished Pashtuns to forsake their divisive tendencies and unite...
which was at that time the tribal chief of Khattak tribe. Afghan sources claim that Aurangzeb suffered a humiliating defeat, with a reported loss of 40,000 Mughal soldiers. Currently the Safi tribe is well known for resistance to the Taliban regime, and many fierce clashes have broken out between the two. Some Safi tribesmen also inhabit Balochistan Province, Pakistan, in Sibi District, with two sub clans: the Meerzai and Kamalzai. Safi are also living in Zobh District. In Balochistan they are together under Safi Ithad and their office is located at Mizan Chock in Mizan Plaza quetta. In Sibi, Safi have the lion share of water, 8 Pao of water in Nari River.
Prominent Figures
- Shams-o-Qamar Safi, Director General, Federal Accountability Bureau Pakistan
- Amir Sultan Safi Advocate High Court(Mardan) Member Central Exective Commetiee Pukhtoon Khwa Meli Awami Party
- General Abdul Rahim Khan Safi
- Khalilullah Khalili poet
- Ghulam Hassan SafiGhulam Hassan SafiGhulam Hassan Safi was a prominent Afghan politician and diplomat. He was one of the founding member of Afghan political movement Weesh Zalmyan...
Khan and Prominent leader of Safi Tribe in Laghman - Afghanistan - General Mohammed Asif SafiMohammed Asif SafiGeneral Mohammed Asif Safi was an Army General in the Afghan National Army during King Zahir Shah's rule in Afghanistan, and later during the 1970s era of President Mohammed Daoud Khan...
- Shah Mehmood Safi from Kunar Peaj Dara, the former Governor in Laghman - Afghanistan
- Dr. Wadir Safi
- Dawood Safi from Helmand, the former Governor of Helmand - Afghanistan
- Amanullah Sailaab SapiAmanullah Sailaab SapiAmanullah Sailaab Sapi was a renowned Afghan poet and writer.-Early life & education:Amanullah was born in 1933 in Kama District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan to Nasrullah Khan Sapi. He obtained his primary education from a local school.-Poetry and Songs:Sailab Safi have written numerous...
(Afghan Poet) - Malik Abdulaziz Khan Safi (Quetta)
- Muhammadullah Khan Safi (Kunar) Khan and a Prominent leader of Safi Tribe Peaj Dara, Kunar - Afghanistan
- Basit Khan Safi (Mardan)
- Saleem SafiSaleem SafiSaleem Safi is a Pakistani journalist and writer who specialises as a political analyst and talk show anchor. He has hosted various current affairs programmes in channels such as PTV News, the Pashto-language AVT Khyber and is currently serving as the host of the popular GEO News talk show Jirga...
Journalist, prominent leader of Pukhtoon Students Federation & young leader of Awami National Party - bdullah Khan Safi General Secretary All Pakistan Clerks Association Balochistan Quetta
- Mirazam Khan safi)