Native Pashtun areas in orange The vast majority of the Pashtuns are found in the traditional, located in an area south of the in Afghanistan, and west of the in Pakistan, which includes,, and the northern part of. Additional Pashtun communities are located in western and northern Afghanistan, the and regions, and northwestern ( and ), Pakistan.

There are also sizeable in India, which are of largely Pashtun ancestry. Throughout the Indian subcontinent, they are often referred to as Pathans. Smaller are found in the countries of the Middle East, such as in the of Iran, the, Europe, North America, and Australia. Important of include,,,, and. There are a number of smaller Pashtun-dominated towns such as,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and others. With estimates as high as 7 million, the city of in, Pakistan has the largest Pashtun population in the world.

Several cities in Pakistan's also have sizeable Pashtun populations, in particular. About 15% of Pakistan's nearly 200 million is Pashtun. In Afghanistan, they are the largest ethnic group and make up between 42–60% of the 32.5 million. The exact figure remains uncertain in Afghanistan, which is also affected by the 1.3 million or more that, a majority of which are Pashtuns. Another one million or more. A cumulative population assessment suggests a total of around 49 million individuals all across the world. Main article: A prominent institution of the Pashtun people is the intricate system of.

The Pashtuns remain a predominantly tribal people, but the trend of urbanisation has begun to alter Pashtun society as cities such as Kandahar, Peshawar, Quetta and Kabul have grown rapidly due to the influx of rural Pashtuns. Despite this, many people still identify themselves with various. The tribal system has several levels of organisation: the tribe,, is divided into kinship groups called khels, in turn divided into smaller groups ( pllarina or plarganey), each consisting of several extended families called kahols. Pashtun tribes are divided into: the, the, the, and the. History and origins Part of on • • • • • Kingdoms • • • • • • Religion •.

Pashto Conversation Manual and Pashto Conversation Tapescript. Washington DC: Center for Applied Linguistics. Organized as a series of lessons corresponding to those in the authors' Beginning Pashto and Intermediate Pashto textbooks. Part of CAL's Pashto textbook series. Available for free download. پښتو (Pashto) Library Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Learn Arabic Short Course in Pashto » Download Work Book & Text Book 1. كيفية صلاة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم 453.7 KB حقوق الصحابة 197.4 KB 2.

Tents of Afghan in who are known in Pashto language as. They migrate from region to region depending on the season (). Excavations of prehistoric sites suggest that early humans were living in what is now Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago. Since the, cities in the region now inhabited by Pashtuns have seen invasions and migrations, including by,, the, and in antiquity,,,,,, and others.

In recent times, people of the Western world have explored the area as well. Most historians acknowledge that the origin of the Pashtuns is somewhat unclear, although there are many conflicting theories, some modern and others archaic, both among historians and the Pashtuns themselves. '. the origin of the is so obscure, that no one, even among the oldest and most clever of the tribe, can give satisfactory information on this point.'

'Looking for the origin of Pashtuns and the Afghans is something like exploring the source of the. Is there one specific beginning?

And are the Pashtuns originally identical with the Afghans? Although the Pashtuns nowadays constitute a clear ethnic group with their own language and culture, there is no evidence whatsoever that all modern Pashtuns share the same ethnic origin. In fact it is highly unlikely.' Early precursors to some of the Pashtun's may have been old that spread throughout the eastern.

According to Yu. Gankovsky, the Pashtun's probably began as a 'union of largely East-Iranian tribes which became the initial ethnic stratum of the Pashtun ethnogenesis, dates from the middle of the first millennium CE and is connected with the dissolution of the Epthalites (White Huns) confederacy.' He proposes Ephthalite origin for Pashtuns but others draw a different conclusion. According to, some oriental scholars hold that the second largest Pasthun tribe, the, are the descendants of a mixed race of Hephthalite and Pakhtas who have been living in Afghanistan since the Vedic Aryan period. Pashtuns are intimately tied to the history of modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.

Following from the 7th to 11th centuries, many Pashtun (warriors) invaded and conquered much of the northern parts of during the periods of the,,,, and. Ancient references. —, 982 CE The village of Saul was probably located near in Afghanistan. Hudud ul-'alam also speaks of a king in Ninhar (), who had Muslim, Afghan and Hindu wives.

Wrote about Afghans in the 11th century as various tribes living in the western mountains of India and extending to the region of. It was reported that between 1039 and 1040 CE of the sent his son to subdue a group of rebel Afghans near. An army of, Afghans, and others was assembled by in 1119 CE.

Another army of Afghans and Khiljis was assembled by in 1153 CE., ruler of the, also had Afghans in his army along with others. A famous travelling scholar,, visiting Afghanistan following the era of the in early 1300s gives his description of the Afghans. 'We travelled on to Kabul, formerly a vast town, the site of which is now occupied by a village inhabited by a tribe of called Afghans. They hold mountains and defiles and possess considerable strength, and are mostly highwaymen. Their principle mountain is called. It is told that the, ascended this mountain and having looked out over India, which was then covered with darkness, returned without entering it.'

—, 1560–1620 One historical account connects the native Pakhtuns of Pakistan to a possible past but this lacks supporting evidence. 'I have read in the Mutla-ul-Anwar, a work written by a respectable author, and which I procured at, a town of in the, that the Afghans are of the race of the; and that when the prophet got the better of that infidel who was overwhelmed in the, many of the Copts became converts to the; but others, stubborn and self-willed, refusing to embrace the true faith, leaving their country, came to India, and eventually settled in the, where they bore the name of Afghans.' — Ferishta, 1560–1620 Additionally, although this too is unsubstantiated, some Afghan historians have maintained that Pashtuns are. (in the center with his son) and his delegation in, near, in 1869 Some Pashtun tribes claim descent from, including some claiming to be (descendants of Muhammad). Some groups from and believe to be descended from who arrived with. Is classified under the sub-branch of the of the. Those who speak a dialect of Pashto in the Kandahar region refer to themselves as Pashtuns, while those who speak a Peshawari dialect call themselves Pukhtuns.

These native people compose the core of ethnic Pashtuns who are found in southeastern Afghanistan and western Pakistan. The Pashtuns have oral and written accounts of their family tree. The elders transfer the knowledge to the younger generation. Lineage is considered very important and is a vital consideration in marital business. Theory of Pashtun descent from Israelites. Leader of the, also referred to as 'the Red shirts' movement,, standing with Their modern past stretches back to the, particularly the and the. The Hotaks were tribesmen who rebelled against the and seized control over much of Persia from 1722 to 1729.

This was followed by the conquests of who was a former high-ranking military commander under. He created the last that covered most of what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan,,, as well as the and provinces of Iran. After the decline of the Durrani dynasty in the first half of the 19th century under, the took control of the empire. Specifically, the subclan held Afghanistan's monarchy from around 1826 to the end of 's reign in 1973. Former President is from the tribe of.

Pakistani cricket-star turned to politician, belongs to the tribe. The Pashtuns in Afghanistan resisted designs upon their territory and kept the at bay during the so-called. By playing the two super powers against each other, Afghanistan remained an independent sovereign state and maintained some autonomy (see the ). But during the reign of (1880–1901), were divided by the, and what is today western Pakistan was claimed by in 1893. In the 20th century, many politically active Pashtun leaders living under British rule of undivided India supported, including,,, and his son (both members of the ), and were inspired by 's method of resistance.

Some Pashtuns also worked in the to fight for an independent Pakistan, including and who was a close associate of. The Pashtuns of Afghanistan attained complete independence from British during the reign of, following the. By the 1950s a popular call for began to be heard in Afghanistan and the new state of Pakistan. This led to bad relations between the two nations. The Afghan monarchy ended when seized control of Afghanistan from his cousin Zahir Shah in 1973, which opened doors for a by neighbors and the rise of.

In April 1978, along with his family and relatives. Commanders began being recruited in neighboring Pakistan for a against the. In 1979, the invaded its southern neighbor Afghanistan in order to defeat a rising insurgency. The mujahideen were funded by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others, and included some Pashtun commanders such as and, who are currently waging an against the and the US-led. In the meantime, millions of Pashtuns fled their native land to live among other in and, and from there tens of thousands proceeded to North America, the, the Middle East, Australia and other parts of the world. In the late 1990s, Pashtuns became known for being the primary ethnic group comprised by the (Taliban regime). The that was fighting against the Taliban also included a number of Pashtuns.

Free Modbus Driver Linux on this page. Among them were, and his brother,,, Hamid Karzai and. The Taliban regime was ousted in late 2001 during the US-led and replaced with the. This was followed by the Ghani administration. Many high-ranking government officials in Afghanistan are Pashtuns, including:,,,,, and. The, as well as the in the and, include large percentage of Pashtuns. The Chief of staff of the,, and Commander of the,, as well as and Attorney General also belong to the Pashtun ethnic group. Pashtuns not only played an important role in South Asia but also in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Many of the non-Pashtun groups in Afghanistan have adopted the Pashtun culture and use Pashto as a second language. For example, many leaders of non-Pashtun ethnic groups in Afghanistan practice Pashtunwali to some degree and are fluent in Pashto language. These include,,,,,,,,,,, and many others. The Afghan, which was represented by King Zahir Shah, belongs to the tribe of Pashtuns. Other prominent Pashtuns include the 17th-century poets and, and in contemporary era, former, and among many others. Many Pashtuns of Pakistan have adopted non-Pashtun cultures, and learned other languages such as,.

These include,, and, who attained the Presidency. Became the from 1951 to 1955. Many more held high government posts, such as,, and, who represents (ANP) in Pakistan. Others became famous in sports (e.g.,,,, and ) and literature (e.g.,,,, and )., who became the youngest recipient in, is a Pakistani Pashtun. Pashtun families are historically accustomed to watching Indian films and dramas.

This is due to cultural similarities. Many of the film stars in India have Pashtun ancestry; some of the most notable ones are,,,,,, and. In addition, one of India's former presidents,, belonged to the tribe. Genetics The is found at a frequency of 51.02% among the Pashtun people. Paragroup (xMEH2, xM378) (of ) was found at 16.3% in Pashtuns.

Haplogroup Q-M242 is also found at a frequency of 18% in Pashtuns in the Afghan capital of Kabul. According to a 2012 study: 'MDS and Barrier analysis have identified a significant affinity between Pashtun,,, and Western Indian populations, creating an Afghan-Indian population structure that excludes the,, and the Dravidian speakers. In addition, gene flow to Afghanistan from India marked by Indian lineages,,, and, also seems to mostly involve Pashtuns and Tajiks. This genetic affinity and gene flow suggests interactions that could have existed since at least the establishment of the region's first civilizations at the and the.'

According to a 2012 study: 'MDS and Barrier analysis. The gene flow to Afghanistan from India marked by Indian lineages, and also seems to mostly involve Pashtuns and Tajiks.' The abstract states:'our results that all current Afghans largely share a heritage derived from a common unstructured ancestral population that could have emerged during the Neolithic revolution and the formation of the first farming communities. Our results also indicate that inter-Afghan differentiation started during the Bronze Age, probably driven by the formation of the first civilizations in the region.' Pashtuns defined Among historians, anthropologists, and the Pashtuns themselves, there is some debate as to who exactly qualifies as a Pashtun. The most prominent views are: • Pashtuns are predominantly an, who use Pashto as their, and live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is the generally accepted academic view.

• They are those who follow. • In accordance with the legend of, the figure traditionally regarded as their progenitor, Pashtuns are those whose related may be traced back to legendary times. These three definitions may be described as the ethno-linguistic definition, the religious-cultural definition and the patrilineal definition, respectively. Ethnic definition The ethno-linguistic definition is the most prominent and accepted view as to who is and is not a Pashtun.

Generally, this most common view holds that Pashtuns are defined within the parameters of having mainly eastern Iranian ethnic origins, sharing a common language, culture and history, living in relatively close geographic proximity to each other, and acknowledging each other as kinsmen. Thus, tribes that speak disparate yet mutually intelligible dialects of Pashto acknowledge each other as ethnic Pashtuns and even subscribe to certain dialects as 'proper', such as the Pukhto spoken by the in and the Pashto spoken by the in. These criteria tend to be used by most Pashtuns in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Cultural definition The religious and cultural definition requires Pashtuns to be Muslim and adhere to Pashtunwali codes. This is the most prevalent view among orthodox and conservative tribesmen, who refuse to recognise any non-Muslim as a Pashtun. Pashtun intellectuals and academics, however, tend to be more flexible and sometimes define who is Pashtun based on other criteria. Pashtun society is not homogenous by religion: the overwhelming majority of them are, with a tiny community (the and partially the tribe) in the and agencies of FATA, Pakistan.

And, have largely relocated to and the United States. Ancestral definition.

The paternal ancestries for Indian Bollywood actors (left), (middle), and (right) were Pashtun. The patrilineal definition is based on an important orthodox law of Pashtunwali which mainly requires that only those who have a Pashtun father are Pashtun. This law has maintained the tradition of exclusively patriarchal tribal lineage. This definition places less emphasis on what language one speaks, such as Pashto,,,, or English. There are various communities who claim Pashtun origin but are largely found among other ethnic groups in the region who generally do not speak the Pashto language.

These communities are often considered overlapping groups or are simply assigned to the ethno-linguistic group that corresponds to their geographic location and mother tongue. The is one of these group.

Claimants of Pashtun heritage in South Asia have mixed with local Muslim populations and are referred to as Pathan, the form of Pashtun. These communities are usually partial Pashtun, to varying degrees, and often trace their Pashtun ancestry through a paternal lineage. The Pathans in India have lost both the language and presumably many of the ways of their ancestors, but trace their fathers' ethnic heritage to the Pashtun tribes. Smaller number of Pashtuns living in Pakistan are also fluent in Hindko, and. These languages are often found in areas such as,,,,,, and.

Some Indians claim descent from Pashtun soldiers who settled in India by marrying local women during the. No specific population figures exist, as claimants of Pashtun descent are spread throughout the country. Notably, the, after their defeat by the British, are known to have settled in parts of and intermarried with local ethnic groups. They are believed to have been bilingual in Pashto and Urdu until the mid-19th century.

Some Urdu-speaking of India claiming descent from Pashtuns began moving to Pakistan in 1947. During the 19th century, when the British were accepting peasants from British India as indentured servants to work in the, South Africa and other far away places, Rohillas who had lost their empire were unemployed and restless were sent to places as far as,, Guyana, and, to work with other Indians on the sugarcane fields and perform manual labour. Many of these immigrants stayed there and formed unique communities of their own.

Some of them with the other South Asian Muslim nationalities to form a common Indian Muslim community in tandem with the larger Indian community, losing their distinctive heritage. Their descendants mostly speak English and other local languages. Some Pashtuns travelled to as far away as during the same era. Involves running and whirling. 221b Baker Street Game Pieces on this page. It is mainly performed in and around the area of Pakistan. Pashtun culture is mostly based on Pashtunwali and the usage of the Pashto language.

Pre-Islamic traditions, dating back to 's defeat of the in 330 BC, possibly survived in the form of, while literary styles and music reflect influence from the and regional fused with localised variants and interpretation. Pashtun culture is a unique blend of native customs with some influences from and Western Asia. Like other Muslims, Pashtuns celebrate and. Some also celebrate, which is the Persian new year dating to pre-Islamic period. Main article: (or Pakhtunwali) refers to an ancient self-governing tribal system that regulates nearly all aspects of Pashtun life ranging from community to personal level. One of the better known tenets is Melmastia, hospitality and asylum to all guests seeking help. Perceived injustice calls for Badal, swift.

Many aspects promote peaceful co-existence, such as Nanawati, the humble admission of guilt for a wrong committed, which should result in automatic forgiveness from the wronged party. These and other basic precepts of Pashtunwali continue to be followed by many Pashtuns, especially in rural areas. Another prominent Pashtun institution is the or 'grand council' of elected. Most decisions in tribal life are made by members of the, which has been the main institution of authority that the largely egalitarian Pashtuns willingly acknowledge as a viable governing body. Pashto literature and poetry. Son of, became the pioneer of.

The majority of Pashtuns use as their, believed to belong to the, and is spoken by up to 60 million people. It is written in the and is divided into two main dialects, the southern 'Pashto' and the northern 'Pukhto'.

The language has ancient origins and bears similarities to such as and. Its closest modern relatives may include, such as and, and. [ ] Pashto may have ancient legacy of borrowing vocabulary from neighbouring languages including such as and. Modern borrowings come primarily from the English language. Fluency in Pashto is often the main determinant of group acceptance as to who is considered a Pashtun. Emerged following the rise of that linked language and ethnic identity. Pashto has in Afghanistan and in neighboring Pakistan.

In addition to their native tongue, many Pashtuns are fluent in Urdu,, and English. Throughout their history, poets, prophets, kings and warriors have been among the most revered members of Pashtun society. Early written records of Pashto began to appear around the 16th century.

The earliest describes Sheikh Mali's conquest of. Is believed to have written a number of Pashto books while fighting with the Mughals. Pashtun scholars such as and others believe that the earliest Pashto work dates back to, and they use the writings found in as proof. Amir Kror Suri, son of Amir Polad Suri, was an 8th-century and king from the region in Afghanistan.

However, this is disputed by several European experts due to lack of strong evidence. The advent of poetry helped transition Pashto to the modern period. Pashto literature gained significant prominence in the 20th century, with poetry by who developed Pashto Ghazals. In 1919, during the expanding of mass media, published Seraj-al-Akhbar, which became the first Pashto newspaper in Afghanistan. In 1977, wrote Tawarikh-e-Hafiz Rehmatkhani which contains the family trees and Pashtun tribal names. Some notable poets include,,,,,,,,,,, and. Recently, Pashto literature has received increased patronage, but many Pashtuns continue to rely on due to relatively low and education.

Pashtun society is also marked by some tendencies. Folktales involving reverence for Pashtun mothers and matriarchs are common and are passed down from parent to child, as is most Pashtun heritage, through a rich oral tradition that has survived the ravages of time. Media and arts.

Further information:,, and has expanded in the last decade, with a number of becoming available. Two of the popular ones are the Pakistan-based and Pashto One. Pashtuns around the world, particularly those in Arab countries, watch these for entertainment purposes and to get latest news about their native areas. Others are Afghanistan-based,, and, which has a special children's show called. International news sources that provide Pashto programs include and. Producers based in have created since the 1970s.

Pashtun performers remain avid participants in various physical forms of expression including dance, sword fighting, and other physical feats. Perhaps the most common form of artistic expression can be seen in the various forms of Pashtun dances. One of the most prominent dances is, which has ancient roots.

A rigorous exercise, Attan is performed as musicians play various native instruments including the (drums), (percussions), (a ), and toola (wooden flute). With a rapid circular motion, dancers perform until no one is left dancing, similar to. Numerous other dances are affiliated with various tribes notably from Pakistan including the Khattak Wal Atanrh (eponymously named after the tribe), Mahsood Wal Atanrh (which, in modern times, involves the juggling of loaded rifles), and Waziro Atanrh among others. A sub-type of the Khattak Wal Atanrh known as the Braghoni involves the use of up to three swords and requires great skill. Young women and girls often entertain at weddings with the Tumbal (tambourine).

Former captain of the One of the most popular sports among Pashtuns is, which was introduced to South Asia during the early 18th century with the arrival of the British. Many Pashtuns have become prominent international in the, including,,,,, and [ ]. The, which is dominated by Pashtun players, was formed in the early 2000s.

Australian cricketer is of Pakistani Pashtun origin who has played for the Australian national team. (soccer) is also one of the most popular sports among Pashtuns. The current of,, is an ethnic Pashtun.

Other sports popular among Pashtuns may include,,,,,,,,, ( ),,,,,, and. And became greatest professional players. Although now retired, they are engaged in promoting the sport through the Pakistan Squash Federation. Is the first female Pashtun squash player. Pakistan also produced other world champions of Pashtun origin:,,, and. And are played by young Pashtun men, mainly in urban areas where snooker clubs are found. Several prominent are from the Pashtun area, including.

Although traditionally very less involved in sports than boys, Pashtun girls sometimes play volleyball, basketball,, and, especially in urban areas. Is a traditional archery sport in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, played with a long arrow ( gheshai) having a saucer shaped metallic plate at its distal end, and a long bow. In recent decades, legend from, has been promoting, and caving in Balochistan, Pakistan. The Friday Mosque in. Adjacent to it is the and the tomb of, the 18th century Pashtun conqueror who became the of Afghanistan. The overwhelming majority of Pashtuns follow, belonging to the school of thought. There are some Pashtun communities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan and in neighbouring northeastern section of of Afghanistan.

The Shias belong to the tribe while the tribe is approximately 50% Shia and the rest Sunni, who are mainly found in and around the,,, and areas in Pakistan. Studies conducted among the reveal strong links between tribal affiliation and membership in the larger (Islamic community).

Afghan historians believe that most Pashtuns are descendants of, who is purported to have been an early convert to Islam and thus bequeathed the faith to the early Pashtun population. The legend says that after Qais heard of the new religion of Islam, he travelled to meet Muhammad in and returned to Afghanistan as a Muslim. He purportedly had four children: Sarban, Batan, Ghourghusht and Karlan. Before the, the Pashtuns likely followed various religions.

Some may have been while others,, or worshippers of, with some probably being, and. However, there is no conclusive evidence to these theories other than the fact that these were the religions practiced by the people in this region before the arrival of in the 7th century. Men doing Islamic (praying) outside in the open in the of Afghanistan A legacy of activity may be found in some Pashtun regions, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area, as evident in songs and dances. Many Pashtuns are prominent, Islamic scholars, such as who has helped translate the, and many other books to the English language. Was a 19th-century Islamic ideologist and one of the founders of Islamic modernism. Although his ethnicity is disputed by some, he is widely accepted in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region as well as in the Arab world, as a Pashtun from the of Afghanistan. Like other non Arabic-speaking Muslims, many Pashtuns are able to read the Quran but not understand the Arabic language implicit in the holy text itself.

Translations, especially in English, are scarcely far and in between understood or distributed. This paradox has contributed to the spread of different versions of religious practices and, as well as political (including movements such as the Taliban) having a key presence in Pashtun society. In order to counter radicalisation and fundamentalism, the United States began spreading its influence in Pashtun areas. Many Pashtuns want to reclaim their identity from being lumped in with the Taliban and international terrorism, which is not directly linked with Pashtun culture and history.

Lastly, little information is available on non-Muslim as there is limited data regarding groups and minorities, especially since many of the and in Pashtun area migrated from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the and later, after the. There is a community of Pashtun Sikhs in Peshawar, Parachinar, and Orakzai Agency of FATA, Pakistan. Of Afghanistan In Pashtun society there are three levels of women's leadership and legislative authority: the national level, the village level, and the family level. The national level includes women such as (Nazo Anaa), Zarghona Anaa, and. Nazo Anaa was a prominent 17th century Pashto poet and an educated Pashtun woman who eventually became the 'Mother of Afghan Nationalism' after gaining authority through her poetry and upholding of the Pashtunwali code. She used the Pashtunwali law to unite the Pashtun tribes against their Persian enemies.

Her cause was picked up in the early 18th century by Zarghona Anaa, the mother of Ahmad Shah Durrani. The lives of Pashtun women vary from those who reside in conservative rural areas, such as the, to those found in relatively freer urban centres.

At the village level, the female village leader is called 'qaryadar'. Her duties may include witnessing women's ceremonies, mobilising women to practice religious festivals, preparing the female dead for burial, and performing services for deceased women. She also arranges marriages for her own family and arbitrates conflicts for men and women. Though many Pashtun women remain tribal and illiterate, others have become educated and gainfully employed. Indian model and actress in films In Afghanistan, the decades of war and the rise of the Taliban among Pashtun women, as many of their rights were curtailed by a rigid interpretation of. The difficult lives of Afghan female refugees gained considerable notoriety with the iconic image of the so-called ' (Sharbat Gula) depicted on the June 1985 cover of magazine.

Modern social reform for Pashtun women began in the early 20th century, when Queen of Afghanistan made rapid reforms to improve women's lives and their position in the family. She was the only woman to appear on the list of rulers in Afghanistan. Credited with having been one of the first and most powerful Afghan and Muslim female activists. Her advocacy of social reforms for women led to a protest and contributed to the ultimate demise of 's reign in 1929. In 1942, (Mumtaz Jehan), the of India, entered the film industry. Bollywood blockbusters of 1970s and 1980s starred, who hailed from the lineage of Gujarat's historical Pathan community: the royal.

Other Indian actresses and models, such as, continue to work in the industry. Remained an important issue during the 1970s, as feminist leader campaigned for and founded the (RAWA) in the 1977. Schoolgirl with U.S. President and family. Pashtun women these days vary from the traditional housewives who live in seclusion to urban workers, some of whom seek or have attained parity with men. But due to numerous social hurdles, the literacy rate remains considerably lower for Pashtun females than for males. Abuse against women is present and increasingly being challenged by women's rights organisations which find themselves struggling with conservative religious groups as well as government officials in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

According to a 1992 book, 'a powerful ethic of forbearance severely limits the ability of traditional Pashtun women to mitigate the suffering they acknowledge in their lives.' Despite obstacles, many Pashtun women have begun a process of slow change. A rich oral tradition and resurgence of poetry has inspired many Pashtun women seeking to learn to read and write. Further challenging the status quo, was selected as Miss Afghanistan in 2003, a feat that was received with a mixture of support from those who back the individual rights of women and those who view such displays as anti-traditionalist and un-Islamic.

Some Pashtun women have attained political office in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, following recent elections, the proportion of female political representatives is one of the highest in the world. A number of Pashtun women are found as TV hosts, journalists and actors. Khatol Mohammadzai serves as in the, another Pashtun female became a fighter in the. Some other notable Pashtun women include,,,,,,,,,, and the late. Pashtun women often have their legal rights curtailed in favour of their husbands or male relatives.

For example, though women are officially in Afghanistan and Pakistan, some have been kept away from by males. Another tradition that persists is (a form of ), which was declared illegal in Pakistan in 2000 but continues in some parts. Substantial work remains for Pashtun women to gain with men, who remain disproportionately dominant in most aspects of Pashtun society. Human rights organisations continue to struggle for greater women's rights, such as the and the in Pakistan which aims to protect women from.

See also • • Notes • Note: population statistics for Pashtuns (including those without a notation) in foreign countries were derived from various census counts, the UN, the and. • Ahmad, Aisha and Boase, Roger. 'Pashtun Tales from the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier: From the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier.' Saqi Books (1 March 2003).. • Ahmad, Jamil.

'The Wandering Falcon.' Riverhead Trade..

A loosely connected collection of short stories focused on life in the Pashtun tribal regions •. 'Millennium and Charisma among Pathans: A Critical Essay in Social Anthropology.' London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. • Ahmed, Akbar S. 'Pukhtun economy and society.' London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. • Banuazizi, Ali and (eds.).

'The Politics of Social Transformation in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East).' Syracuse University Press.. • Banuazizi, Ali and Myron Weiner (eds.).

'The State, Religion, and Ethnic Politics: Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East).' Syracuse University Press.. The Pathans: 500 B.C.-A.D.

1957 (Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints).' Oxford University Press.. 'Peshawar: Historic city of the Frontier.' Sang-e-Meel Publications (1995).. • Docherty, Paddy.

The Khyber Pass: A History of Empire and Invasion: A History of Invasion and Empire. Oxford University Press.. • Goodson, Larry P. Afghanistan's Endless War:State Failure, Regional Politics, and the Rise of the Taliban. University of Washington Press.. 'Afghanistan: An Abridged History.'

Fenestra Books.. ' Kodansha Globe; Reprint edition..

• (1962; 2nd edition 1972). 'The Way Of The Pathans.' Oxford University Press.. Wiley-Blackwell., 413 • Wardak, Ali, 2003, online at (the United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance). External links This article contains. Without proper, you may see unjoined letters or other symbols instead of. Wikimedia Commons has media related to.