Afghanistan s ethnic diversity does not mean that the members of the different ethnic groups do not interact. Ethnic conflict in afghanistan political history conclusion 642870. Afghanistan is essentially prenationalist, with ethnic groups holding similar. Some may not be viable andor have incorrect progress scale values, population, language and religion information. Alexanders successors, the seleucids, continued to infuse the region with greek cultural influence. Afghanistan is a multi ethnic country the ethnic groups are such as. Afghanistan s diverse ethnic communities or on the 80% of afghans who live in rural areas. They assume that ethnic groups are solid cultural units which are divided by obvious boundaries and have engaged in conflict for hundreds of years e. It has been inhabited since the paleolithic and later became a crossroad for expanding civilizations and empires.
The war in afghanistan has vastly changed the balance of power among the ethnic groups. The population of afghanistan is around 37,5,635 in 2019, which includes the roughly 3 million afghan citizens living as refugees in both pakistan and iran. Pdf afghanistans ethnic groups share a ychromosomal. Afghanistans 2004 constitution recognises 14 ethnic groups. Ethnic groups in afghanistan simple english wikipedia. Afghanistan and pakistan have a shared history and culture spanning thousands of years, whether its the shared ethnic groups like pashtuns and baloch, or being a part of the same empires throughout the years. Many might feel more comfortable if northern kazakhstan merged. The groups listed below are not included in overall joshua project people group counts. The vast majority of indias population is composed of ethnic groups that have evolved over many hundreds if not thousands of years in the country lc, eb. Afghanistans national anthem recognizes 14 ethnic groups among the countrys 27.
On this map, both the baloch and pashtun ethnolinguistic groups straddle the 2640kilometer 1640mile border between afghanistan and pakistan, known as the durand line the border was established in 1893 via an agreement between abdur rahman khan, the emir or ruler of afghanistan, and sir mortimer durand, foreign secretary of the british raj. Afghanistan s location, history, and diverse ethnic groups present a unique opportunity to explore how nations and ethnic groups emerged, and how major cultural evolutions and technological developments in human history. Rough estimates of the ethnic composition today are as follows. Since these groups are scattered all over the country, it is evident that by. Afghans have historically identified or associated with ethnic groups, however specific data as to the. Ethnicity, corruption and voting behavior in afghanistan.
To make matters worse, shes a sunni muslim, and hes a shiite muslim, and their sects have been in violent conflict for centuries. More than twofifths of the population speak pashto, the language of the pashtuns, while about half speak some dialect of persian. General sites afghanistan network ethnic groups of afghanistan including pashtun, taijiks, hazaras, uzbek, turkmans, nuristanis, aimaqs, baluchis, etc. The people of afghanistan form a complex mosaic of ethnic and linguistic groups. Ethnic conflict in afghanistan by joe oaks on prezi.
History and conflict between ethnic groups in afghanistan. C i v i l m i l i t a r y f u s i o n c e n t re afghan. The mujahedin were engaged in what he and his roommates perceived to be a. Ethnic violence, impact on afghanistan afghanistan is a country made up of numerous ethnic groups. Afghanistans music tradition is expressed through three outlets. Afghanistan unveiled lesson plan womens rights in postwar afghanistan page 1 of 8.
The united states and the rest of the international community feared that afghanistan s rival ethnic groups would use their regional power bases to pull apart any unitary state, forming in its place independent ministates or aligning with their ethnic brethren across afghanistan s. Pashtun peoples are the largest ethnic group in the south of the country, while tajiks and uzbeks are concentrated along the norther borders, and the hazara in the central highlands. Very small groups reported, but outside the joshua project small group policy. Ethnic people groups of afghanistan joshua project. Demographics top at least two major ethnic groups the pashtuns and the baluchslive on both sides of the durand line. Nov 20, 2001 but even as they vanquished the common enemy in 1992, the mujahedeen factions set upon each other, launching a ferocious civil war in which some 50,000 people are believed to havebeen killed. Afghanistan is bordered by pakistan to the east and south. May 08, 20 afghans confront sensitive issue of ethnicity afghanistan is set to issue new national ids that will have a persons ethnicity embedded in it electronically but not printed on it. Afghanistan would soon divide as the various ethnic. That ethnic group accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of afghanistan s population. Ethnic groups in afghanistan ethnic group 20042014 estimate pashtun 42% tajik 27% of this 1% are qizilbash hazara 8% uzbek 9% aimaq 4% turkmen 3% baloch 2% others pashayi, nuristani, arab, brahui, pamiri, gurjar, etc. Minority rights group international e p o afghanistan. Ethnic conflict erupts in peaceful corner of afghanistan.
Afghanistan is also a deeply tribal society, and marriages between different ethnic groups are frowned on. The kite runner and the problem of racism and ethnicity. The issue was simply power, and its distribution both across different ethnic groups and among rival warlords within particular ethnic groups. Afghanistan ethnic map 2005 afghanistan is a multi ethnic country the ethnic groups are such as. After decades of fighting, afghanistan has become a patchwork of different ethnic groups, each with their own allegiances to neighboring countries. Despite afghans proven records in ethnic harmony, the growing ethnic polarisation can easily spread across the society. Power politics of ethnic groups and the future of afghanistan posted in afghanistan 08jul11 author. The crisis and politics of ethnicity in afghanistan.
Hdr 2004, backgroundpaper, barnett human development reports. They speak the hazaragi variant of persian, one of the two official languages of afghanistan they are the thirdlargest ethnic group in afghanistan, also making up a significant minority group in the neighboring pakistan, with a population of. Ethnic and rural communities, many of which are divided by mountains and wide expanses, have often looked to local faction leaders for their governance. In afghanistan, a growing uproar over ethnicity pashtun, tajik, hazara and uzbek has many concerned about possible violence, especially those who remember the countrys civil war. Pages in category ethnic groups in afghanistan the following 53 pages are in this category, out of 53 total.
The area along the afghanistanpakistan border opposite peshawar and the. It is here that peter marsdens report makes its most significant contribution. The border was established in 1893 via an agreement between abdur rahman khan, the emir or ruler of afghanistan, and sir mortimer durand, foreign secretary of the british raj. The afghan national anthem and the afghan constitution mention a total of 14 ethnic. Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in afghanistan, comprising 42 percent of the population or. Although soviet union occupation plays a role in the disaster, afghanistan has many different ethnic groups, resulting in the major struggles between them, which leads towards violence, and. Like a number of other afghan ethnic groups, the pushtun extend beyond afghanistan into pakistan where they constitute a major ethnic group of about 14 million. In afghanistan, there are several ethnic and linguistic groups and also there are several islamic sects who live in this country and they are organized in a hierarchical structure. Mar 28, 2012 genotyping revealed 32 halpogroups present in afghanistan s ethnic groups among our samples.
There has been a debate as to who qualifies to be pashtun but the widely agreed view is that pashtuns are eastern iranian people who speak pashto as their first language. Media in category ethnic groups in afghanistan the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. The afghan national anthem and the afghan constitution mention a total of 14 ethnic groups. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aimaq, turkmen, baloch, pashayi. Pakistan and afghanistan institute for the study of war. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aymaq, turkmen, baloch, pashai, nuristani, gujjar, arab, brahui, pamiri and a few others. Of the 31 million or so afghan residents, 42% are pashtun, 27% tajik, 9% hazara, 9% uzbek, 4% aimak, 3% turkmen, 2% baloch and 4% fall into an unspecified other group. Afghanistan s peoples and armed groups reaching an accommodation. Such attacks are said to be motivated by sectarian divides. Demographics top at least two major ethnic groupsthe pashtuns and the baluchslive on both sides of the durand line.
Afghanistan represents an ideal model to assess ignatieffs theory of ethnic conflict. Pashtuns 44%, tajiks 25%, hazara 10%, and uzbek 8% simonsen, 2006. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aimaq, turkmen, baloch, pashayi, nuristani, gujjar, arab, brahui. These groups, throughout time, have used violence to achieve their goals.
Afghanistan ethnic origins and languages afghanistans web site. Afghanistan shares a controversial border with pakistan. Out of key ethnic groups pashtuns are the largest, ranging from 40 per cent to 60 per cent, depending on who is providing information, followed by tajiks comprising 25 per cent, uzbeks 9 per cent and hazaras 19 per cent of the total population of afghanistan. Jul 28, 2017 the taliban claimed responsibility for an explosion that targeted a largely hazara neighborhood in kabul earlier this week. Afghanistans ethnic groups share a ychromosomal heritage. Ethnic groups in afghanistan simple english wikipedia, the. Turkmen are a minority in afghanistan they can also be found near. Afghanistan social hierarchy traditionally, the word afghan has been used to describe an ethnic group, also known as the pashtuns, yet the country is multicultural. On this map, both the baloch and pashtun ethnolinguistic groups straddle the 2640kilometer 1640mile border between afghanistan and pakistan, known as the durand line. Trend line uses x1b in the merged variable list 20072012. Afghanistan has held a strategic position throughout history. Regarding afghanistan most researchers have the view that ethnic groups have existed since time immemorial. In the mid1990s attempts have been made to reestablish shared rule.
Ethnic groups of afghanistan by yoda noori on prezi. According to 2010 data from the us department of state, the largest ethnic group in afghanistan is the pashtun including kuchis, comprising 42% of. Feb 19, 2014 in afghanistan, a growing uproar over ethnicity pashtun, tajik, hazara and uzbek has many concerned about possible violence, especially those who remember the countrys civil war. The kite runner, which its adapted film was produced in 2007 and received many attentions, is an english novel w ritten by the afghan american writer khaled hosseini in 2003. Pashtuns, tajiks, hazaras, uzbeks, balochis, turkmens, nooristanis, pamiris, arabs, gujars, brahuis, qizilbash, aimaq and pashai. Raisa masud and yelda nuri turkmen hazara make up about 20% of the population of afghanistan of mongolian descent sunni muslim have been massacred for ethnic cleansing. An investigation of ethnic identity in a national sample of afghans a dissertation submitted to the faculty of the. The taliban and many top officials are also pashtun.
He explains the political, social, religious and ethnic factors behind the countrys recent history, debunking in the process some of the simplistic and stereotyped views so prevalent abroad. Conrad schetter ethnicity and the political reconstruction in. Pages in category ethnic groups in afghanistan the following 11 pages are in this category, out of 11 total. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aymaq, turkmen, baloch, pashai, nuristani, gujjar, arab, brahui, pamiri, kyrgyzand a few others. The afghan pushtun heartland roughly covers a large crescentshaped belt following the afghanpakistani border on the east, southward from nuristan, across the south, and northward. As you would expect, there is a diverse range of ethnic groups within the country. The population of the country is divided into the following ethnolinguistic groups. Afghanistan, it is helpful for them to have an understanding of the religion and beliefs that guide the personal and political decisions of the afghan people. Library of congress federal research division country profile. Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostlytribal society. By vivian nemenyi afghanistan is a warzone, filled with treachery and hatred spewing from different ethnic groups. A listing, photos, maps and graphs of the ethnic people groups of afghanistan including language, progress scale, percent evangelical and professing christian, and primary religion for each people group. The agreement was signed on november 12, 1893, in kabul, afghanistan.
Afghanistan s ethnic groups share a ychromosomal heritage structured by historical events. Dari and pashto are the countrys official languages. Afghanistan and pakistan ethnic groups national geographic. There is a substantial amount of intermarriage between the ethnic groups. Aug 14, 2011 ethnic groups often form an individuals perceptions, behaviours and interactions in society. Ghani, abdullah sworn in as part of afghanistans power. Power politics of ethnic groups and the future of afghanistan.
It also makes territorial ethnonationalism impractical. Apr 12, 2016 an approximate distribution of the ethnic groups is shown in the chart below. The fragmented state of the more than 35 million pashtuns in pakistan and afghanistan is a key factor in this crisis. Conrad schetter, ethnicity and the political reconstruction of afghanistan, center for development studies zef.
The nation is composed of a multi ethnic and multilingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between central asia, southern asia, and western asia. Pashtuns, tajiks, hazaras, uzbeks, and others who make up less than 2% each. Afghan ethnic tensions rise in media and politics the new. When discussing ethnicity, it often proves difficult to draw clear distinctions between terms such as social, ethnic and minority groups.
Afghanistan unveiled lesson plan womens rights in postwar afghanistan page 3 of 8. Haplogroups r1a1am17, c3m217, j2m172, and lm20 were the most frequent when afghan ethnic groups were pooled, together comprising 66% of the chromosomes. Afghanistan is a warzone, filled with treachery and hatred spewing from different ethnic groups. Afghanistan in 20 3 acknowledgements the survey of the afghan people is a major undertaking of the foundation each year, requiring contributions and cooperation of numerous asia foundation staff and the foundations partners.
Their resort to violence could be based upon a combination of family loyalties, or religious and ethnic issues, or local and national politics, or other cultural matters. Afghanistan has several ethnic groups, the largest being hazara, pashtun, tajik, turkmen, and uzbek. Perceiving them as a formidable ethnic group, the pakistani establishment has. In the past, these localized ethnic conflicts have had serious national and even international implications. Afghan ethnicities presentation notes flashcards quizlet. The majority of afghanistan s ethnic groups 87%, including the hazara 9%, brahui 1.
Ethnic groups, other than pashtuns and tajiks, will be presented in alphabetical order. Afghanistan population 2020 demographics, maps, graphs. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Population of afghanistan approximately 26 million people country of minorities meaning there are many small ethnic groups each defined by their religions, wealth, and political beliefs although there are a collection of several small groups, some are more powerful than others. Absolute and relative haplogroup frequencies are tabulated in table s4. Ahmad noor power politics means the use of force or threat to use force by political parties, nations, groups, subgroups or individuals to protect, preserve or to promote their national, personal or party interests. Soviet invasion and united states aid to mujahideen 1996.
The most recent figures on the ethnic affiliations comes from a survey conducted by the asia foundation in 2014. This was another reason zakias father opposed her marriage to ali. Pashto and persian dari, both indoeuropean languages, are the official languages of the country. Basically, the country is subdivided into four regions identified by their longstanding urban centers. Afghanistan is a large country in south asia and is home to many different ethnic groups. The last national census was conducted in the 1970s. Only a few weeks ago, ghani and abdullah were at odds over an election that threatened to split afghanistan s ethnic groups and trigger violence. Afghanistan has experienced ethnic war, the collapse of its state institutions and is currently undergoing a reconstruction process centred on establishment of. Its the result of an agreement between sir mortimer durand, a secretary of the british indian government, and abdur rahman khan, the emir, or ruler, of afghanistan. Local sources have confirmed to me that clashes have broken out in the maidanwardak province of afghanistan over grazing rights as kuchi nomads begin their annual migration.
Afghan ethnic tensions rise in media and politics the. Herat in the west, qandahar in the south, mazarisharif in the north, and kabul in the east. Jul 30, 2019 pashtun is an ethnic group predominant in afghanistan and pakistan characterized as warriors. This kept ethnic tensions and violence to a minimum, though the pashtuns in kabul were always the politically dominant group. Pdf ethnic groups and political mobilization in afghanistan.
This can be observed when combining the statistics in figure 4 for pashtun and nonpashtun. There are about a dozen ethnic groups in afghanistan, they include. According to the representative survey, 40% of the people identified themselves as pashtun, 36% as tajik, 10% as hazara, 8% as uzbek, 2%. Afghan center for socioeconomic and opinion research acsor.