Pashtun people

PD Image
The Pashtun flag

Pashtuns (also known as Pakhtuns, Pathans) are an Eastern Iranian group primarily located in Southern Afghanistan, in the North-West Frontier Province, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan provinces of western Pakistan. The Pashtuns primarily speak the Pashto language, although a Dari speaking minority exists. Dari, however, is the lingua franca of Afghanistan.

Clans

(CC) Photo: Keith Stanski
Clan elders make all the important decisions

The two main factions of the Afghans are the Ghilzai and the Durranis. Traditionally, the Durranis have controlled Afghanistan's political affairs, although the Ghilzai are the majority. In fact, Afghanistan's monarchy was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747.

The Durranis are dominated by two main clans, the Zirak and the Panjpia. The Zirak have historically been the elite, and the Afghan royal family came from the Mohamedzai subclan of the Ziraks. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is from the Popalzai subclan of the Ziraks. The Panjpia subclans include the Alizaj, Izhak, Koginaj, Maku, and Nurzai.

Elders play important roles in the clans and all important decisions are made by them.