Are Pashtuns tribal?
They are found primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan and form the world’s largest tribal society, comprising over 49 million people and between 350 and 400 tribes and clans. There are several levels of organisation of Pashtun tribes. The “tribe” is subdivided into kinship groups, each of which is a khel and zai.
What is the Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan?
Pashtuns, also known as Pushtans, Paktuns or Pathans, are the predominant ethnic group in Afghanistan who comprise 40-50 per cent of the population. Smaller ethnic groups in the country among the 14 recognised include Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras.
What are Afghanistan tribes?
Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostly tribal society. The population of the country consists of numerous ethnolinguistic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Arab, Brahui, Qizilbash, Pamiri, Kyrgyz, Sadat and others.
Is Pathan a high caste?
The followers of Islam in India and South Asia have their own caste hierarchy in which ‘Syeds’ and Pathans consider themselves higher than others, especially the pasmanda, or ‘backward’ Muslims. It is also not uncommon for Dalit men to routinely be beaten up by those considered “upper caste” cutting across religion.
Was Peshawar a part of Afghanistan?
Although formally it was part of the state of Pakistan, Peshawar belonged to Afghanistan by now. It lived according to Afghan laws and rules, it thought and felt the Afghan way, it spoke Afghan and it looked Afghan.
What does Khel mean in Pashto?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Khel (Pashto: خیل), also spelled as Khail, are sub-tribes of Pashtun tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The title of the tribe ends in Zai and its sub-tribe name ends in Khel.
How many ethnic tribes are in Afghanistan?
14
There are as many as 14 recognized ethnic groups in the country, with Pashtuns making up between 40 percent and 50 percent of the population. Tajiks account for about 25 percent, while Hazaras and Uzbeks are about 9 percent each. Then there are a handful of other groups in smaller numbers.