List of Pashtuns

Tribal and religious leaders of Afghans (Ethnic Pashtuns) in southern Afghanistan

Pashtuns,[1] also known as Pakhtuns or Afghans, are an ethnic group that inhabit the Pashtunistan region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.[2][3] They are one of the most populous ethnic groups in both countries. There is a significant Pashtuns diaspora in neighbouring countries such as India and Iran.[4]

Pashtuns are traditionally organised into tribal divisions, and their society is defined by the Pashtunwali, the traditional code by which they live. It is extremely important in the social structure and interactions of the Pashtun tribes.

There are more than 350–400 Pashtun tribes making Pashtuns the world's largest segmentary lineage society.[5]

Rulers and generals

Artists

Afghanistan

  • Farhad Darya (Afghanistan) – Afghan singer and composer, known for his contributions to Afghan music.

Pakistan

United Kingdom

Canada

Authors

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Aviators

Afghanistan

  • Abdul Ahad Momand (Afghanistan) – 4th Muslim astronaut who visited Space and first Muslim in the entire world who bring Quran to the moon. Due to Abdul Ahad Momand, Islam is now the 4th religion practiced in space. He spoke Pashto in space so Pashto is the 4th language spoken in the space.

Pakistan

Air Marshal Asghar Khan, first native Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, politician, and author was from the Afridi tribe of Pashtuns.
Air Vice Marshal Khyber Khan, former Deputy Chief of Air Staff of the PAF and diplomat

Architects

  • Sharif Fayez – Afghan architect and urban planner who has contributed to the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
  • Hayatullah Khan Durrani – Afghan architect and urban planner who has played a vital role in the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Businessman

  • Afghanistan
  • Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman. He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.
  • Pakistan

Bureaucrats

Pakistan

Scientists

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Film Industry

India

See also: Khans of Bollywood
Salman Khan (left), Shah Rukh Khan (center left), Aamir Khan (center right), and Saif Ali Khan (right)

Pakistan

  • Nazir Ahmed Khan – Nazir Ahmed Khan, renowned director, actor, producer, filmmaker, pioneer and founding father of Pakistan Film Industry post partition. He was also one of the pioneers of the pre-partition Sub Continental Film Industry starting from Calcutta and spanning to Bombay and Lahore.
  • Adeeb – Pakistani film actor. He appeared in 38 Indian films from 1940 to 1962, although he did not start performing in films very actively until the 1950s
  • Mahira Khan – Pakistani actress known for her roles in Pakistani and Indian films. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
  • Neelam Muneer – Pakistani actress from Mardan
  • Fawad Khan – Pakistani actor born into Pashtun family
  • Kushhal Khan – Pakistani actor from Nowshera, Descendant of Kushal Baba
  • Laila Khan – Pashto singer from Peshawar
  • Bilal Abbas Khan – Pakistani actor
  • Feroze Khan – Pakistani actor

Journalists

Afghanistan

Pakistan

  • Rahimullah Yusufzai – Pakistani journalist and expert on Afghan affairs, known for his reporting on the region.
  • Saleem Safi – Pakistani journalist, columnist, and television anchor, specializing in political analysis and current affairs.
  • Nasim Zehra – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her expertise in political analysis and foreign affairs.
  • Asma Shirazi – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her work in political journalism and interviewing prominent figures.
  • Iftikhar Ahmad – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for his talk show focused on political and social issues.
  • Wajahat Saeed Khan – Pakistani journalist, news anchor and defence analyst.

Politicians

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Abdul Rab Nishtar
Imran Khan

Presidents

India

Pakistan

Afghanistan

  • Mohammad Daoud Khan – served as the first President of Afghanistan from 1973 to 1978.
  • Nur Muhammad Khan Taraki – Served as the second President of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1979.
  • Hafizullah Amin – He remained the 3rd head of state Afghanistan from Sept 19ember79 to Dec 19ember79, H. organizedsed theur communist Revolution in 1978.
  • Babrak Karmal – He served as the Head of state from 1979 to 1986 from People's Democratic Party.
  • Haji Muhammad Khan Tsamkani – He served as the Head of state from 1986 to 1987.
  • Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai – He served as the communist Head of state from 1987 to 1992.
  • Abdul Rahim Hatif – After the assassination of Dr Najibullah, He acted as the president of Afghanistan for 2 weeks.

Military

Afghanistan Forces

Pakistan Armed Forces

Field Marshal Ayub Khan, former Pakistan Army chief and President of Pakistan was from the Tareen tribe of Pashtuns.
Air Marshal Asghar Khan, first native Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, politician, and author was from the Afridi tribe of Pashtuns.
Major Aslam Khan captured the Kennedy Peak (Myanmar) in World War II and played a key role in the merger of Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan, was from the Afridi tribe and elder brother of Asghar Khan.
General Gul Hassan Khan, 10th Chief of General Staff and last C-in-C of the Pakistan Army
AVM Khyber Khan, former Deputy Chief of Air Staff of the PAF and diplomat

Royalty

Khalji Empire (1290-1320)

  • khilji dynasty was the second dynasty which ruled the Delhi sultanate, covering large parts of the Indian subcontinent for nearly three decades between 1290 and 1320.It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji

Durrani Empire (1747-1823)

  • Ahmad Shah Abdali – Founder of Durrani Empire. and Former ruler of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and some parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
  • Timur Shah Durrani – Second Ruler of Durrani Empire and Former ruler of Afghanistan and Punjab Region.
  • Zaman Shah Durrani – Third Ruler of Durrani Empire.

Hotak Empire

Lodi Empire

Barakzai Dynasty

Sur Empire

Pakhtunkhawa State (Yusufzai) (1520-1620)

  • Malak Ahmad Khan Yusufzai, The founder of and first ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
  • Gaju Khan Baba, was the Second Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
  • Malak Misri Khan Yusufzai, was the Third Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
  • Malak Ghazi Khan Yusufzai, was the Fourth ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
  • Kalu Khan Yousafzai, was the 5th Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
  • Bahaku Khan Yusufzai, was the Last Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.

Bangash Dynasty

Babi Dynasty (1554)

Revolutionaries

Sport Persons

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Singers

Afghanistan

Pakistan

  • Gul Panra – Pashto Singer from Swat.
  • Haroon Bacha – Pashto Folk singer.
  • Raheem Shah – Pashto singer, born in Karachi.
  • Junaid Jamshed, was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, television personality, fashion designer, actor, engineer, and preacher. Junaid Jamshed was born in a Khattak Pathan family in Karachi.
  • Sardar Ali Takkar – Pashto singer, born in Takkar village Mardan is a Pakistani Pashto singer
  • Gulzar Alam – is a famous Pashto folk and Ghazal singer, musician, and composer.

Jurists

Afghanistan

Pakistan

References

  1. ^ Minahan, James B. (2012-08-30). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-660-7.
  2. ^ Spain, James William (1963). The Pathan Borderland. Mouton. p. 40.
  3. ^ "Pashtun | Definition, People, Culture, & Religion | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. ^ "The Hindu : Miscellaneous / This Day That Age : dated July 20, 1954: Pakhtoons in Kashmir". 2004-12-09. Archived from the original on 2004-12-09. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  5. ^ Romano, Amy (2003). A historical atlas of Afghanistan. Internet Archive. New York : Rosen Pub. Group. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-8239-3863-6.
  6. ^ "Ghani Khan Poetry - Ghani Khan Shayari, pashto Ghazal, Nazam Collection". UrduPoint. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  7. ^ "Ghani Khan Poetry - Ghani Khan Shayari, pashto Ghazal, Nazam Collection". UrduPoint. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  8. ^ InpaperMagazine, From (2011-03-06). "POETRY: Celebrating the father of Pashto ghazal". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  9. ^ "Khushal Khan Khattak - The Warrior and the poet". 2007-08-24. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  10. ^ "Jamal al-Din al-Afghani".
  11. ^ "The News 10 May 1967, page 61". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  12. ^ "Second Bihar Governor who could be India's Prez". Deccan Herald. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  13. ^ Malleson, George Bruce (1999-01-01). History of Afghanistan, from the Earliest Period to the Outbreak of the War Of 1878. Adegi Graphics LLC. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-4021-7278-6.
  14. ^ Incorporated, Facts On File (2003). Discover Countries - Afghanistan. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-2242-7.