List of Pashtuns

Collection of notable Pashtun figures
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 Iran and India.[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

  • Abdul Ghani Khan (Pakistan) – Pashto poet, writer, philosopher, and artist[6]
  • Rahim Shah (Pakistan) – popular Pashto and Urdu singer
  • Khyal Muhammad (Pakistan) – prominent Pashto folk singer
  • Gulzar Alam (Pakistan) – Pashto singer and music composer
  • Gul Panra (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto female singer
  • Zeb Bangash (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto folk singer
  • Zeek Afridi (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto folk singer
  • Badar Munir (Pakistan) – Pashto Film former actor
  • Kushhal Khan (Pakistan) – Pashto model and actor

United Kingdom

  • M Huncho (Afghan-British) – Afghan-British rapper and singer from London.

Authors

India

Pakistan

Suriname

Aviators

Afghanistan

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

Pakistan

  • Jahangir Khan (Pakistan) – Pakistani aviator who became the first Pashtun and the second Pakistani to fly around the world solo in a small aircraft.
  • Hakeemullah Khan Durrani (Pakistan) – Former Pakistani Air Marshal and Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force.

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

Bureaucrats

Pakistan

Scientists

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Film Industry

Madhubala from her paternal lineage hailed from the Yusufzai tribe of Pashtuns from the Valley of Peshawar

India

  • Madhubala; Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi – cinema superstar of India, she starred in over 60 films in the span of 20 years including the epic Mughal-e-Azam, the highest-grossing film in India's history
  • Shah Rukh Khan - Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films, According to Khan his paternal grandfather, was an ethnic Pashtun from Afghanistan.
  • Parveen Babi – Indian actress and model known for being the first Bollywood star to appear on the cover of Time magazine. She hailed from the Babi dynasty.
  • Amjad Khan – Indian actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character Gabbar Singh in the film "Sholay." He belonged to a Pashtun family.
  • Kader Khan - Indian actor, screenwriter and film producer. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and is an ethnic Pashtun of the Kakar tribe.
  • Zareen Khan – Indian actress who made her debut in Bollywood. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
  • Aamir Khan – famous Bollywood actor, his family has roots from Herat in Afghanistan, he belongs to the Khan-Hussain family.
  • Salman Khan – famous Bollywood actor, he belongs to the Salim Khan family.
  • Arbaaz Khan – Indian actor, film producer, and director. He is of Pathan descent and the brother of Salman Khan.
  • Saif Ali Khan - actor and film producer who primarily works in Hindi films. He belongs to the Pataudi family.
  • Soha Ali Khan – actress of Pataudi Royalty, she is the younger sister of Saif Ali Khan.
  • Naseeruddin Shah - Indian actor, who is a descendant of Afghan warlord Jan-Fishan Khan.
  • Irrfan Khan - Indian actor, who belongs to a family of Pathan ancestry.

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

  • Najiba Ayubi – Afghan journalist and women's rights advocate, known for her work in promoting press freedom and advocating for women's rights.
  • Sami Yousafzai – Afghan journalist

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

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

General Ayub Khan, former Pakistan Army chief and President of Pakistan was from the Tareen tribe of Pashtuns.

Pakistan Armed Forces

Afghanistan Forces

  • Abdul Raziq Achakzai – former lieutenant commander of Afghan armed forces.s
  • Mohammad Akram (general) – vice Chief of Staff of the Afghan National Army.
  • Sardar Shah Wali Khan – Was a political and Military figure in Afghanistan
  • Obaidullah Akhund – Defense Minister of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
  • Dadullah – Afghan Taliban senior Military commander until his death 2007.
  • Abdul Qadir (Afghan communist) – Military Higher officer in Afghanistan Air Force.

Royalty

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

  • Mirwais Khan Hotak – Founder of Hotak Empire.[13] Also known as the "Emir Of Greater Afghanistan".
  • Abdul Aziz Hotak – Second Ruler of Hotak Empire.[14]
  • Mahmud Hotak – Second ruler of Hotak Empire. He was known as the Shah of Iran.
  • Ashraf Hotak – Third Ruler of Hotak Empire. Also known as the Shah of Iran. He defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Ottoman Hotak War.
  • Hussain Hotak – 4th and Last ruler of Hotak Dynasty,

Lodi Empire

Barakzai Dynasty

Sur Empire

Pakhtunkhawa State (Yusufzai) (1520-1620)

Revolutionaries

Sport Persons

Afghanistan

Pakistan

  • Shahid Afridi – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the most popular and successful all-rounders in the game.
  • Imran Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer, legendary fast bowler, and the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.
  • Younis Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the leading run-scorers in Test cricket history.
  • Zubair Ahmed – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
  • Samiullah Khan – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won three gold medals at the Olympics and is considered one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.
  • Jahangir Khan – Former Pakistani squash player, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history.
  • Zaman Khan, Pakistani international cricketer from South Waziristan.
  • Abrar Ahmed, Pakistani cricketer from Mansehra who became Pakistani bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in the first session on Test debut.
  • Junaid Khan, Pakistani international cricketer.
  • Yasir Shah, Pakistani cricketer and leg-spinner from Swabi.
  • Shaheen Afridi, Pakistani international cricketer from Khyber.
  • Qazi Mohib, Former Olympian and Ex Captain Pakistan Hockey Team from Bannu
  • Naseem Shah, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Dir.
  • Muhammad Waseem Wazir, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Waziristan.
  • Muhammad Rizwan, Pakistani cricketer and batsman from Peshawar.
  • Mohammad Haris, Pakistani cricketer and batsman from Peshawar.
  • Khushdil Shah, Pakistani cricketer from Bannu.
  • Jansher Khan, Pakistani squash player.
  • Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistani cricketer and all rounder from Peshawar.
  • Haris Rauf, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Mansehra
  • Fakhar Zaman, Pakistani cricketer from Mardan
  • Mir Azam, first-class cricketer of Swabi in the Abbottabad team, also known as the falcons
  • Umar Gul- Pakistani international cricketer from Peshawar.
  • Wajahatullah Wasti- Pakistani international cricketer from Peshawar.
  • Saim Ayub, Pakistani international cricketer
  • Shan Masood Khan, Pakistani international cricketer
  • Ihsanullah, Pakistani international cricketer and fast bowler from Swat
  • Javed Burki, Former legendary Pakistani test cricketer.
  • Usman Shinwari, Pakistani international cricketer and fast bowler from Khyber.
  • Majid Khan, Former Pakistani international cricketer, batsman and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team.

Singers

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.

Jurist

Pakistan

References

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  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.