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Afghanistan
Ethnic Groups
In 1996, approximately 40 percent of Afghans were Pashtun, 11.4
of whom are of the Durrani tribal group and 13.8 percent of the
Ghilzai group. Tajiks make up the second largest ethnic group
with 25.3 percent of the population, followed by Hazaras, 18 percent;
Uzbeks, 6.3 percent; Turkmen, 2.5 percent; Qizilbash, 1.0; 6.9
percent other. The usual caveat regarding statistics is particularly
appropriate here.
Pashtun
The largest and traditionally most politically powerful ethnic
group, the Pashtun (or Pakhtun in northern Pakhtu dialects), is
composed of many units totalling in 1995 an estimated 10.1 million,
the most numerous being the Durrani and the Ghilzai. Other major
tribes include the Wardak, Jaji, Tani, Jadran, Mangal, Khugiani,
Safi, Mohmand and Shinwari. Like a number of other Afghan ethnic
groups, the Pushtun extend beyond Afghanistan into Pakistan where
they constitute a major ethnic group of about 14 million.
The Afghan Pushtun heartland roughly covers a large crescent-shaped
belt following the Afghan-Pakistani border on the east, southward
from Nuristan, across the south, and northward along the Iranian
border almost to Herat. Enclaves of Pashtun also live scattered
among other ethnic groups throughout the nation, where they have
settled at various times since the end of the nineteenth century
as shifts in populations, some forced, some voluntary, occurred
in response to political expediency and economic opportunities
(see Abdur Rahman Khan, 1880-1901, ch.1).
Physically the Pushtun are basically a Mediterranean variant
of the greater Caucasian race and speak several mutually intelligible
dialects of Pashtu; some also speak Dari. Both Pashtu and Dari
belong to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.
Pushtun are generally Hanafi Sunni Muslims, but some are Ithna
Asharia Shia (see Ithna Asharia, this ch.).
The Pushtun have provided the central leadership for Afghanistan
since the eighteenth century when Ahmad Khan Abdali of Kandahar
established the Durrani Empire. This one-time general in Nadir
Shah's Persian army was elected to power in 1747 at a tribal jirgah,
an assembly which takes decisions by consensus. The legitimacy
of his rule was sanctioned at the same time by the ulama
(religious scholars) (see Ahmad Shah and the Durrani Empire, ch.1).
Ahmad Khan assumed the title of Durr-i-Durran (Pearl
of Pearls) and was henceforth known as Ahmad Shah Durrani and
his tribe, the Pushtun Abdali tribe, as the Durrani. When his
successors lost the support of the tribes after Ahmad Shah's death
in 1772, control passed to the Mohammadzai lineage within the
Barakzai section of the Durrani Pushtun.
Mohammadzai dominance continued from 1826 to 1978, interrupted
only for a scant nine months in 1929. Then power shifted to the
second largest Pushtun tribe, the Ghilzai, who dominated the leadership
of the secular Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) after
1978, although most were essentially detribalized because of their
close association with urban life. This regime was in turn replaced
in 1992 by the Islamic State of Afghanistan, established by the
mujahidin whose leaders were mostly from the Ghilzai, and a variety
of eastern Pushtun tribes, although the President from 1992-1996
was a Tajik. This state has been challenged since the October
1994 takeover of Kandahar by the Pushtun Taliban. The Taliban
heartland remains in the south and while the original leadership
bid for unity by playing down tribal identities, divisions began
to surface after Kabul was taken in September 1996.
Pushtun culture rests on Pushtunwali, a legal and moral
code that determines social order and responsibilities. It contains
sets of values pertaining to honor (namuz), solidarity
(nang), hospitality, mutual support, shame and revenge
which determines social order and individual responsibility. The
defence of namuz, even unto death, is obligatory for
every Pushtun. Elements in this code of behavior are often in
opposition to the Shariah. Much of the resistance to the largely
detribalized leadership of the DRA stemmed from the perception
that in attempting to nationalize land and wealth, as well as
regulate marriage practices, the DRA was unlawfully violating
the prescriptions of Pushtunwali.
The Pushtun are basically farmers or herdsmen, or combinations
of both, although several groups are renowned for specialized
occupations. For instance, the monarchy and many government bureaucrats
were Durrani Pushtun, the Ahmadzai Ghilzai are consulted for their
legal abilities, the Andar Ghilzai specialize in constructing
and repairing underground irrigation systems called karez,
and the Shinwari of Paktya monopolize the lumber trade. Pushtun
nomads are discussed below.
Data as of 1997
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