Afghans

Afghans are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, including those living abroad in the Afghan diaspora. The population of the country is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks forming the largest communities. Dari, Pashto, and Southern Uzbek are the principal languages spoken. Although the term Afghan was historically used as an ethnonym for the Pashtun people, it has gradually evolved into a national designation encompassing all citizens of Afghanistan, irrespective of ethnic background.

Etymology

The name Afghan (Abgān) appears in written sources as early as the third century CE, when Shapur I of the Sasanian Empire referred to a group of people by this name. In the fourth century, Bactrian-language documents from northern Afghanistan also mention Afghans or Afghana, again in reference to Pashtun groups.
The word is of Persian origin and was originally applied specifically to Pashtuns. A number of theories have been proposed to explain its deeper linguistic roots. Some scholars trace the term to Avestan or Sanskrit expressions such as awajana/pajana and ava-Hana/pa-Han, associated with ideas of striking, resisting, or defending. Others suggest connections with horse-related terms, particularly the Sanskrit aśva (horse) and Aśvaka, an Indo-Aryan tribe known to classical writers as the Assakenoi. Because this group inhabited the Hindu Kush region and was renowned for its cavalry, several nineteenth- and early twentieth-century scholars argued that Afghan may derive from Aśvaka or Asvakayana, implying “cavalier” or “horsemen”. These historical linguistic theories are now considered speculative but form part of the long-standing discussion of the ethnonym’s origins.
Over time, the term’s meaning shifted. Under the Parthians and Sasanians, it may have applied to specific Persian groups, but in early Islamic and medieval sources it was closely associated with Pashtuns. With the rise of the modern Afghan state, Afghan gradually expanded to denote all inhabitants of the country.

Afghan Identity in Modern Constitutional Usage

Modern Afghan nationality law applied the term Afghan to every citizen of the state. The 2004 Constitution—valid until 2021—listed a wide array of ethnic groups, including Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, Kyrgyz, Qizilbash, Gurjar and Brahui peoples, and stated that “the word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan.”
Political debate continues regarding the term’s usage. Some members of non-Pashtun communities prefer ethnolinguistic identifiers and object to the term Afghan being equated with national identity, partly due to its historical association with Pashtuns. Conversely, Pashtuns in Pakistan sometimes identify themselves as Afghans in an ethnic rather than national sense.

Usage as an Ethnonym

Historically, Afghan referred exclusively to Pashtuns. Dari-speaking communities and other ethnic groups in Afghanistan commonly used Afghan or Afghān to denote Pashtuns specifically. Because Pashtun tribes have long been numerically influential and politically dominant, the association between Afghan and Pashtun has persisted both within and outside the country.
In modern usage, however, Afghan functions primarily as a national term encompassing all citizens.

Variations of the Term

• Afghani is officially the name of Afghanistan’s currency. While the term is used in some English-language sources as a demonym, many consider this usage incorrect in English. In Persian, however, Afghani may function as a valid adjectival form meaning “relating to Afghanistan”.
• Afghanese, an older alternative, has appeared occasionally but is now largely obsolete.

Ethnic Composition

Afghanistan is home to numerous ethnic groups, with Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks forming the core of the population. These groups trace their origins to diverse Iranic, Turkic, and Mongolic cultural and linguistic traditions. Smaller groups—such as Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristanis, Aimaqs, Arabs, Kyrgyz, Qizilbash, Gujar, and Brahui peoples—contribute further diversity.

Religion

The overwhelming majority of Afghans are Muslims. Approximately 90 per cent adhere to Sunni Islam, while roughly 10 per cent follow Shia Islam. Historically, small minority communities have included Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians.

Culture

Afghan culture has a long history, extending back over three millennia to the Achaemenid period and earlier. Shared cultural features coexist with strong regional identities, shaped by geography, tribal structures and historical interaction with neighbouring civilisations. Influences from Persian culture are particularly notable: Afghanistan and Iran share linguistic ties, the Solar Hijri calendar, and longstanding literary and artistic traditions. Despite this, each province of Afghanistan exhibits distinct customs, dialects, dress, music, and social practices, reflecting the country’s mountainous terrain and diverse population.