36-586: The Tehran Eight was an Afghan Shiite Mujahideen political union, mainly composed of ethnic Afghan Hazaras , during the Soviet–Afghan War . They were supported by Iran , hence the name Tehran Eight. The Tehran Eight were predominantly active in the Hazarajat region in central Afghanistan, and fought against the PDPA government and the supporting Soviet troops. It formed the second largest resistance force in
72-511: A famous Moroccan traveler, visiting Afghanistan following the era of the Khilji dynasty in 1333 writes. "We travelled on to Kabul, formerly a vast town, the site of which is now occupied by Afghans. They hold mountains and defiles and possess considerable strength, and are mostly highwaymen. Their principal mountain is called Kuh Sulayman . It is told that the prophet Sulayman [Solomon] ascended this mountain and having looked out over India, which
108-527: A part of Mahmud Ghaznavi 's army and were sent on his expedition to Tokharistan , while on another occasion Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked and punished a group of opposing Afghans, as also corroborated by Abulfazl Beyhaqi . It is recorded that Afghans were also enrolled in the Ghurid Kingdom (1148–1215). By the beginning of the Khilji dynasty in 1290, Afghans have been well known in northern India. Ibn Battuta ,
144-508: A place of which the king makes a show of Islam, and has many wives, (namely) over thirty Muslim, Afghan, and Hindu (wives). The rest of the people are idolaters. In (Ninhar) there are three large idols." In the 11th century, Afghans are mentioned in al-Biruni 's Tarikh-ul Hind ("History of the Indus"), which describes groups of rebellious Afghans in the tribal lands west of the Indus River in what
180-403: Is a straight level road, and does not go through any hill-passes... In the country of Kābul there are many and various tribes. Its valleys and plains are inhabited by Tūrks , Aimāks, and Arabs. In the city and the greater part of the villages, the population consists of Tājiks*( Sarts ). Many other of the villages and districts are occupied by Pashāis , Parāchis, Tājiks, Berekis, and Afghans... In
216-541: Is due to Iran and Afghanistan being culturally close to each other for thousands of years. Afghan (ethnonym) The ethnonym Afghan ( Dari Persian / Pashto : افغان ) has been used historically to refer to the Pashtuns . Since the second half of the twentieth century, the term " Afghan " evolved into a demonym for all residents of Afghanistan , including those outside of the Pashtun ethnicity. The earliest mention of
252-404: Is nothing there but Afgháns and disturbances." Thus it is clear that for this reason the people of the country call their home in their own language Afghánistán, and themselves Afgháns. The people of India call them Patán ; however the reason for this is not known. But it occurs to me, that when, under the rule of Muhammadan sovereigns, Musulmáns first came to the city of Patná , and dwelt there,
288-580: Is now known as Pakistan. Al-Utbi, the Ghaznavid chronicler. In n his Tarikh-i Yamini records that many Afghans and Khiljis (possibly the modern Ghilji ) living between Laghman and Peshawar enlisted in the army of Sabuktigin after Jayapala was defeated. "The Afghans and Khiljis who resided among the mountains having taken the oath of allegiance to Subooktugeen, many of them were enlisted in his army, after which he returned in triumph to Ghizny ." Al-Utbi further states that Afghans and Ghiljis made up
324-753: The Deccan , that the Afghans are Copts of the race of the Pharaohs ; and that when the prophet Moses got the better of that infidel who was overwhelmed in the Red Sea , many of the Copts became converts to the Jewish faith ; but others, stubborn and self-willed, refusing to embrace the true faith, leaving their country, came to India, and eventually settled in the Sulimany mountains, where they bore
360-677: The Parthian Empire , the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect. Another view is that the name Afghan evidently derives from the word Aśvakan which means "horsemen", "horse breeders", or " cavalrymen " (from aśva or aspa , the Sanskrit and Avestan words for " horse "), or the Assakenoi of Arrian , which was the name used for ancient inhabitants of the Hindu Kush . This view
396-561: The Parthian Empire , the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect. In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e. the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana, the name of the Aśvakan or Assakan , the ancient inhabitants of the Hindu Kush region. Some have theorized that the name of the Aśvakan or Assakan has been preserved in that of the modern Pashtun , with
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#1732855173457432-539: The national identity of people from Afghanistan of all ethnicities. From a more limited, ethnological point of view, " Afḡhān " is the term by which the Persian -speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Pashtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Pashtūn. The equation Afghans = Pashtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Pashtūn tribal confederation has maintained its hegemony in
468-510: The Afghan chiefs, who had become a proselyte to Mahomedism. From this marriage many children were born, among whom were two sons famous in history. The one Lodhi , the other Sur ; who each, subsequently, became head of the tribes which to this day bear their name. I have read in the Mutla-ul-Anwar , a work written by a respectable author, and which I procured at Burhanpur , a town of Khandesh in
504-513: The Afghans, so [you should] impose a penalty on Nat Kharagan ... ... Lord of Warnu with ... ... ...the Afghan... ..." The name of the Aśvakan or Assakan has been preserved in that of the modern Pashtun , with the name Afghan being derived from Asvakan . The term "Afghan" is later recorded in the 6th century CE in the form of "Avagāṇa" [अवगाण] by the Indian astronomer Varāha Mihira in his Brihat-samhita . "It would be unfavourable to
540-406: The Afghans, the judge of Tukharistan and Gharchistan . Moreove, a letter [has come hither] from you, so I have heard how [you have] written to me concerning my health. I arrived in good health (and) afterwards (?) I heard that a message was sent thither to you (saying ) thus : ... look after the farming but the order was given to you thus. You should hand over the grain and then request it from
576-625: The Pashtun people is mentioned in the Bactrian documents found in Northern Afghanistan. The word 'Afghan' is of Persian origin and refers to the Pashtun people. Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words awajan/apajan in Avestan and ava-Han/apa-Han in Sanskrit , which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the Sasanians , and possibly
612-566: The Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks equate the term with Pashtun hegemony and the risk of having their own ethnic identities erased by it. The term Afghanistani has been used among some refugees and diasporas, particularly among non-Pashtuns. The term Afghani refers to the unit of Afghan currency . The term is also often used in the English language (and appears in some dictionaries) for a person or thing related to Afghanistan, although some have expressed
648-590: The Tehran Eight, all headquartered in Iran: This article about an Afghan political party is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Afghans Afghans ( Dari : افغانها ; Pashto : افغانان ) are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan , as well as their descendants in the Afghan diaspora . The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which Pashtuns , Tajiks , Hazaras , and Uzbeks are
684-406: The citizens store: I will not order, so ... I myself order and in respect of winter sends men thither to you then look after the farming. To Ormuzd Bunukan, Greetings." "because [you] (pl.), the clan of the Afghans, said thus to me: ... And you should not have denied (?) the men of Rob [that] the Afghans took (away) the horses." "[To...]-bid the Afghan... Moreover, they are in [War]nu (?) because of
720-402: The country, numerically and politically. The less common Afghanistani (افغانستانی) is an alternative identity marker for citizens of Afghanistan. The term "Afghanistani" refers to someone who is a citizen of Afghanistan, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. In multiethnic Afghanistan, the term "Afghan" has always been associated with the Pashtun people. Some non-Pashtun citizens such as
756-545: The hill-country to the north-east lies Kaferistān , such as Kattor and Gebrek. To the south is Afghānistān." The name "Afghanistan" is also mentioned in the writings of the 16th-century historian Ferishta : "The men of Kábul and Khilj also went home; and whenever they were questioned about the Musulmáns of the Kohistán (the mountains), and how matters stood there, they said, "Don't call it Kohistán, but Afghánistán; for there
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#1732855173457792-505: The largest. The three main languages spoken among the Afghan people are Dari , Pashto , and Uzbek . Historically, the term "Afghan" was a Pashtun ethnonym , but later came to refer to all people in the country, regardless of their ethnicity. The earliest mention of the name Afghan ( Abgân ) is by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire during the 3rd century CE, In the 4th century, the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to
828-431: The name -stān is a Persian suffix for "place of". The Pashto translation of stogna is prominent in many languages of Asia. The name Afghanistan is mentioned in writing by the 16th century Mughal ruler Babur and his descendants, referring to the territory between Khorasan , Kabulistan , and the Indus River , which was inhabited by tribes of Afghans . "The road from Khorasān leads by way of Kandahār. It
864-401: The name Afghan ( Abgân ) is by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire during the 3rd century CE. In the 4th century, the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) was used in reference to a particular people as mentioned in the Bactrian documents. "To Ormuzd Bunukan, from Bredag Watanan ... greetings and homage from ... the sotang (?) of Parpaz (under) the glorious Yabghu of Hephthal , the chief of
900-782: The name Afghan being derived from Asvakan . As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, language or culture". According to the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan , all Afghans citizens are equal in rights and obligations before the law. The fourth article of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , which was valid until 2021, states that citizens of Afghanistan consist of Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, Kyrgyz , Qizilbash , Gurjar , Brahui , and members of other ethnicities. There are political disputes regarding this: there are members of
936-455: The name of Afghans." The coined term of Afghanistan came into place in 1855, officially recognized by the British during the reign of Dost Mohammad Khan . Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words awajan/apajan in Avestan and ava-Han/apa-Han in Sanskrit , which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the Sasanians , and possibly
972-460: The non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan that reject the term Afghan being applied to them, and there are Pashtuns in Pakistan that wish to have the term Afghan applied to them. The pre-nation state, historical ethnonym Afghan was used to refer to a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. Due to the changing political nature of the state, the meaning has changed, and the term has shifted to refer to
1008-579: The opinion that this usage is incorrect. The reason for this usage might be because the term "Afghani" (افغانی) is in fact a valid demonym for Afghans in the overall Persian language , whereas "Afghan" is derived from Pashto. Thus, "Afghan" is the anglicized form of "Afghani" when translating from Dari Persian, but not from Pashto. Another variant is Afghanese , which has been seldom used in place of Afghan. Afghans come from various ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups are Pashtuns , Tajiks , Hazaras , and Uzbeks , who make up approximately 95% of
1044-611: The people of Chola, the Afghans (Avagāṇa), the white Huns and the Chinese." The word Afghan also appeared in the 982 Ḥudūd al-ʿĀlam , where a reference is made to the village of Saul, which was estimated to be located near Gardez , in the Paktia province of Afghanistan. "Saul, a pleasant village on a mountain. In it live Afghans. " Hudud al-'Alam also speaks of a king in Ninhar ( Nangarhar ), who had Muslim, Afghan and Hindu wives. "Ninhar,
1080-455: The people of India (for that reason) called them Patáns—but God knows!" Regarding the modern state of Afghanistan , the Encyclopædia of Islam explains: "The country now known as Afghanistan has borne that name only since the middle of the 18th century, when the supremacy of the Afghan race became assured: previously various districts bore distinct apellations, however the country
1116-592: The population of Afghanistan. They are of diverse origins including of Iranic , Turkic or Mongolic ethnolinguistic roots. The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of Islam , of whom around 90% are of Sunni and 10% the Shia branch. Other religious minorities include the Afghan Hindus , Afghan Sikhs , Afghan Zoroastrians , Afghan Jews and Afghan Christians . Afghan culture has existed for over three millennia, dating back to
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1152-620: The time of the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BCE. Afghans have both common cultural features and those that differ between regions with each of the 34 provinces having its own unique distinctive cultures partly as a result of geographic obstacles that divide the country. Afghanistan's culture is historically linked to nearby Persia , including both countries following the Islamic religion , the Solar Hijri calendar and speaking similar languages, this
1188-569: The war, after the main Afghan mujahideen (also called the "Peshawar Seven"), which was a Sunni alliance. The Tehran Eight was formed in December 1987 with the direct participation of the Iranian state, after years of inter-factional struggle in the Hazarajat. In 1989, they were united into one party, Hezb-e Wahdat , with the exception of Hezbollah Afghanistan . The following Afghan organizations composed
1224-429: Was not a definite political unit, and its component parts were not bound together by any identity of race or language. The earlier meaning of the word was simply "the land of the Afghans", a limited territory which did not include many parts of the present state but did comprise large districts now either independent or within the boundary of British India (Pakistan)." There are a number of other hypotheses suggested for
1260-440: Was propounded by scholars like Christian Lassen , J. W. McCrindle , M. V. de Saint Martin, and É. Reclus , The Indian epic Mahabharata speaks about Kambojas among the finest horsemen , and ancient Pali texts describe their lands as the land of horses . Kambojas spoke Avestan language and followed Zoroastrianism . Some scholars believe Zoroastrianism originated in the land of Kambojas. The last part of
1296-597: Was then covered with darkness, returned without entering it." A 16th-century Muslim historian writing about the history of Muslim rule in the subcontinent states: "He [Khalid bin Abdullah son of Khalid bin Walid ] retired, therefore, with his family, and a number of Arab retainers, into the Sulaiman Mountains, situated between Multan and Peshawar, where he took up his residence, and gave his daughter in marriage to one of
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