Who are the Pashtuns?
• The Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group in
Afghanistan, accounting for a little over half the
population
• They speak Pashtu
• They are usually Sunni Muslims (Pashtuns of
Afghanistan)
• The Pashtuns have the most political power in
Afghanistan
• Pashtuns are primarily located to the east and south
and are organized into tribes (Ethnic Groups in
Afghanistan)
Map of the location of Pashtuns in Afghanistan
As you can see, Pashtuns are densely located in the South
Eastern parts of Afghanistan
"Pashtun Ethnic Map." Map. US Policy in a Big World. WordPress, n.d.
Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.uspolicyinabigworld.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/Pashtun-Ethnic-Map3.jpg>.
Pashtun Culture
• Pashtuns base their morals off of a code called
“Pushtunwali”
• The “Pushtunwali” contains values associated
with honor, solidarity, hospitality, mutual
support, shame and revenge which
determines social order
• Protecting your honor is mandatory for every
Pashtun (Ethnic Groups in Afghanistan)
Roles of Pashtuns
• Pashtuns can often be farmers and
shepherds(Ethnic Groups in Afghanistan)
• Many Pashtuns hold government positions as
well
• They have been the dominant force in politics
in Afghanistan since the foundation of the
Taliban government in 1996
• Women have limited roles(Pashtuns in
Afghanistan)
Clothing and appearance of Pashtuns
• Pashtuns are typically light skinned and have high
cheek bones
• Most Pashtuns wear a knee length skirt over
baggy pants
• Unmarried women wear cotton shirts with red
pants, while married women wear cotton shirts
with blue pants
• They wear turbans with one end hanging over the
shoulder(unique to the Pashtuns) (Pashtuns In
Afghanistan)
This is a Pashtun man. Notice how the one end of
the turban is hanging over his shoulder.
N.d. Photograph. Http://cdn.criticalppp.com. WordPress. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
<http://cdn.criticalppp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Nawaz-Sharif-with-Turban457x600.jpg>.
Pashtun Tribes
• The Pashtuns are made up of many subunits
• They are split up in to two main tribes, the
Durrani and the Ghilzai
• The Durrani is located in the south of
Afghanistan
• The Ghilzai is located to the north of the
Durrani, near the Pakistan border
• The Durrani and the Ghilzai each have their
own subtribes(Pashtuns in Afghanistan)
Durrani and Ghilzai subtribes
• Durrani subtribes: Achakzai, Alizai, Barakzai,
Mohammadzai, and Popalzai
• Ghilzai subtribes: Ahmadzai, Kharruti, Hotaki,
Wardak, Jaji, and Jadran
• There are some other little tribes Afghanistan
including the Tani, Mangal, Khugiani, Safi,
Mohmand, Afridi, Khatak, Orakzai, Waziri,
Mahsud, Chamkani, and the Shinwari, and
more(Pashtuns in Afghanistan)
Map of the tribes and their subtribes in Afghanistan
As you can see, the Durrani and it subtribes are located
in the south of Afghanistan. The Ghilzai and its subtribes
are north of the Durrani near the border of Pakistan.
"Pashtun Tribal Map." Map. University of West Flordia. UWF, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Works Cited
• "AllRefer.com - Afghanistan - Ethnic Groups in
Afghanistan
- Afghanistan Pashtun | Afghan Information
Resource."
AllRefer.com - Afghanistan - Ethnic Groups
in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan Pashtun | Afghan Information Resource. AllRefer,
n.d.
Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
• N.d. Photograph. Http://cdn.criticalppp.com. WordPress.
Web.
16 Oct. 2012.
• "Pashtun Ethnic Map." Map. US Policy in a Big
World.
WordPress, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
• "Pashtuns in Afghanistan." Public Intelligence. Public Intelligence,
n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
• "Pashtuns of Afghanistan." Pashtuns of Afghanistan. WebMedia
INteractive, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.
• "Pashtun Tribal Map." Map. University of West Flordia. UWF, n.d.
Web. 17 Oct. 2012.