Editing Afghans

{{Short description|People or citizens of Afghanistan}}
{{About||the historical Pashtun ethnonym|Afghan (ethnonym)|other uses of the term|Afghan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Afghans
| native_name      = {{lang|prs|افغان‌ها|rtl=yes}}&nbsp;([[Dari]])<br />{{lang|ps|افغانان|rtl=yes}}&nbsp;([[Pashto]])
| image            = Map of the Afghan Diaspora in the World.svg
| caption          = Map of the [[Afghan diaspora]]:
{{Legend|#000000|Afghanistan}}
{{Legend|#440000|+ 1,000,000}}
{{Legend|#a30000|+ 100,000}} 
{{Legend|#ff0000|+ 10,000}}
{{Legend|#ff7676|+ 1,000}}
| population       = 53<ref>{{cite web |title=22 |url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/afghanistan-population/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=The population of Afghanistan in 2024}}</ref> million{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| total_source     = estimate
| popplace         = Diaspora:<br/> 9,085,784+{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
| region1          = {{flagu|Iran}}
| pop1             = {{circa|5 million}} (2023)
| ref1             = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran's Interior Minister – The presence of more than 5 million Afghan immigrants in Iran |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1402042113915/%D9%88%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.isna.ir|date=13 July 2023 }}</ref>
| region2          = {{flagu|Pakistan}}
| pop2             = 1,285,754 (2022)
| ref2             = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Situations |url=https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=data2.unhcr.org}}</ref>
| region3          = {{flagu|Germany}}
| pop3             = 425,000 (2022)
| ref3             = <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Publikationen/Downloads-Migration/statistischer-bericht-migrationshintergrund-erst-2010220227005.htmll|title = Statistischer Bericht – Mikrozensus – Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund – Erstergebnisse 2022|date = 20 April 2023|access-date = 17 July 2023}}</ref>
| region4          = {{flagu|United States}}
| pop4             = 300,000 (2022)
| ref4             = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allied-media.com/ |title=Welcome allied-media.com - BlueHost.com |publisher=Allied-media.com |date= |accessdate=2022-12-24}}</ref>
| region5          = {{flagu|UAE}}
| pop5             = 300,000 (2012)
| ref5             = <ref name="Shahbandari">{{cite news |last=Shahbandari |first=Shafaat |date=November 30, 2012 |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/society/afghans-take-hope-from-uae-s-achievements-1.1112640 |title=Afghans take hope from UAE's achievements |publisher=Gulf News |access-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>
| region6          = {{flagu|Russia}}
| pop6             = 150,000 (2017)
| ref6             = <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-afghan-community/28926962.html |agency=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |title=Moscow's 'Little Kabul' |date=25 December 2017}}</ref>
| region7          = {{flagu|Turkey}}
| pop7             = 129,323 (2021)
| ref7             = <ref name="The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border">{{cite news |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/8/4/the-afghan-refugee-crisis-brewing-on-turkeys-eastern-border |title=The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border |publisher=The New Humanitarian |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=2021-08-13}}</ref>
| region8          = {{flagu|Canada}}
| pop8             = 125,305 (2022)
| ref8             = <ref>{{cite web|title=Canada Census Profile 2021|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A000011124&HEADERlist=31&SearchText=Canada|website=Census Profile, 2021 Census|date = 7 May 2021|publisher=Statistics Canada Statistique Canada|access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates – Canada – Admissions of Permanent Residents by Country of Citizenship|url=https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/f7e5498e-0ad8-4417-85c9-9b8aff9b9eda/resource/d1c1f4f3-2d7f-4e02-9a79-7af98209c2f3|website=Statistics Canada|access-date=3 January 2022}}</ref>
| region9          = {{flagu|France}}
| pop9             = 124,830 (2023)
| ref9             = <ref>{{citation|url=https://www.vidc.org/fileadmin/michael/studien/a_guide_to_afghan_diaspora_engagement_in_europe_.pdf|title=A Guide to Afghan Diaspora Engagement in Europe|publisher=VIDC Global Dialogue|date=March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Afghans who worked for France get a chance at asylum">{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210630-afghans-who-worked-for-france-get-a-chance-at-asylum-%E2%80%93-and-spark-an-exodus |title=Afghans who worked for France get a chance at asylum – and spark an exodus |publisher=France 24 |date=June 30, 2023 |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref>
| region10         = {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
| pop10            = 79,000 (2019)
| ref10            = <ref>{{ONSCoB2019|accessdate=17 October 2020}}</ref>
| region11         = {{flagu|Sweden}}
| pop11            = 67,738 (2023)
| ref11            = <ref>{{cite web|title = Population statistics |url=https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/population/population-composition/population-statistics/}}</ref>
| region12         = {{flagu|Australia}}
| pop12            = 59,797 (2021)
| ref12            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/7201_AUS |title = People in Australia who were born in Afghanistan |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>
| region13         = {{flagu|The Netherlands}}
| pop13            = 51,830 (2021)
| ref13            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37325/table|title = CBS Statline}}</ref>
| region14         = {{flagu|Greece}}
| pop14            = 21,456 (2021)
| ref14            = <ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Calcea |first=Nicu |date=2021-08-19 |title=How the US and the UK accept far fewer Afghan refugees than other countries |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2021/08/how-us-and-uk-accept-far-fewer-afghan-refugees-other-countries |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>
| region15         = {{flagu|Ukraine}}
| pop15            = 20,000 (2001)
| ref15            = <ref name="Afghans in Ukraine">{{cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/881540.html|title=Афганська громада України|newspaper=Радіо Свобода |date=October 8, 2001|access-date=2021-07-29 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref>
| region16         = {{flagu|Denmark}}
| pop16            = 18,018 (2017)
| ref16            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afghanistanembassy.no/denmark/ |title=Denmark |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan) |date=January 1, 2017 |access-date=2021-07-30 |quote=The number of Afghan immigrants living in Denmark per January 1st 2017 is 13240. There are also 4778 persons who are descendants of Afghan immigrants.}}</ref>
| region17         = {{flagu|India}}
| pop17            = 15,806 (2021)
| ref17            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Tabellen/rohdaten-auslaendische-bevoelkerung-zeitreihe.html |title= Rohdatenauszählung ausländische Bevölkerung |date=31 January 2023}}</ref>
| region18         = {{flagu|Austria}}
| pop18            = 44,918 (2023)
| ref18            = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/menschen_und_gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstruktur/bevoelkerung_nach_staatsangehoerigkeit_geburtsland/index.html |title=Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland }}</ref>
| region19         = {{flagu|Switzerland}}
| pop19            = 14,523 (2021)
| ref19            = <ref name="auto1"/>
| region20         = {{flagu|Finland}}
| pop20            = 12,044 (2021)
| ref20            = <ref name=Finland>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#foreigners |title=Foreigners in Finland |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 9, 2021 |access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>
| region21         = {{flagu|Italy}}
| pop21            = 11,121–12,096 (2021)
| ref21            = <ref>{{cite report |author=Istituto Nazionale di Statistica |author-link=Italian National Institute of Statistics |date=2020 |title=Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2019 |url=http://demo.istat.it/str2019/index.html |publisher=[[Istat]] |location=Rome |access-date=15 August 2021 |quote=Italia – Asia Centro-Meridionale<br />Afghanistan [...] Totale: 11121|lang=it|trans-title=Foreign Citizens. Resident population and demographic balance as in 31 Dec 2019|trans-quote=Italy – Center-Southern Asia<br />Afghanistan [...] Total: 11,121}}</ref>
| region22         = {{flagu|Norway}}
| pop22            = 24,823 (2022)
| ref22            = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/innvandrere/statistikk/innvandrere-og-norskfodte-med-innvandrerforeldre | title=Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre }}</ref>
| region23         = {{flagu|Uzbekistan}}
| pop23            = 10,000 (2017)
| ref23            = <ref name="Eurasianet">{{citation|url=https://eurasianet.org/afghanistans-ghani-visits-uzbekistan-on-mission-to-plug-into-central-asia|title=Afghanistan's Ghani Visits Uzbekistan on Mission to Plug Into Central Asia|publisher=Eurasianet|date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>
| region24         = {{flagu|Israel}}
| pop24            = 10,000 (2012)
| ref24            = <ref name="The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance">{{cite news|last1=Arbabzadah|first1=Nushin|title=The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/feb/28/afghan-jews-tolerance|access-date=2017-04-12|work=The Guardian|date=28 February 2012}}</ref>
| region25         = {{flagu|Indonesia}}
| pop25            = 7,629 (2021)
| ref25            = {{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
| region26         = {{flagu|Tajikistan}}
| pop26            = 6,775 (2021)
| ref26            = <ref name="Afghanistan Situation">{{cite news |url=https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/afghanistan#_ga=2.50735596.454016482.1641847996-2034345174.1627464944 |title=Afghanistan Situation |publisher=UNHCR |date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=2022-01-10}}</ref>
| region27         = {{flagu|Brazil}}
| pop27            = 6,181 (2024)
| ref27            = <ref>[https://www.nepo.unicamp.br/observatorio/bancointerativo/numeros-imigracao-internacional/sincre-sismigra/ Immigrants in Brazil (2024, in Portuguese)]</ref>
| region28         = {{flagu|Qatar}}
| pop28            = 4,000 (2012)
| ref28            = <ref name="Population of Qatar by nationality">{{cite web |url=https://www.bq-magazine.com/economy/2013/12/population-qatar-nationality |title=Population of Qatar by nationality |first=Jure |last=Snoj |work=bq magazine |date=18 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212101043/https://www.bq-magazine.com/economy/2013/12/population-qatar-nationality |archive-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| region29         = {{flagu|Japan}}
| pop29            = 3,509 (2020)
| ref29            = <ref name="Immigration Services of Japan">{{citation|url=https://www.isa.go.jp/en/policies/statistics/toukei_ichiran_touroku.html |title=Statistics on foreign residents in Japan (formerly registered alien statistics) – statistics table |work=Immigration Services of Japan |language=Japanese}}</ref>
| region30         = {{flagu|New Zealand}}
| pop30            = 3,414 (2013)
| ref30            = <ref name="2013 Census ethnic group profiles: Afghani">{{cite web|url=https://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx|title=2013 Census ethnic group profiles|website=archive.stats.govt.nz}}</ref>
| region31         = {{flagu|Malaysia}}
| pop31            = 2,661 (2021)
| ref31            = <ref name="Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed">{{cite news|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/afghan-refugees-in-malaysia-find-hope-in-theatre-of-the-oppressed-10068|title=Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed |publisher=TRT World |date=September 4, 2017 |access-date=2021-07-29 |location=Turkey}}</ref>
| region32         = {{flagu|Kazakhstan}}
| pop32            = 2,500+ (2021)
| ref32            = <ref name="elkz">{{cite web|url=https://el.kz/news/kogam/salt-d-st-rin_ayalay_bilgen_khaly-/|title="Салт-дәстүрін аялай білген халық" – ақпараттық-танымдық сайт – Еl.kz|date=7 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="snkz">{{cite web|url=https://sn.kz/sn-akparat-agyny/84229-boskyndardy-kabyldauga-uzildi-kesildi-karsymyn-kazakstandagy-augan-diasporasynyn-basshysy|title="Босқындарды қабылдауға үзілді-кесілді қарсымын" – Қазақстандағы ауған диаспорасының басшысы|date=23 September 2021 }}</ref>
| region33         = {{flagu|Romania}}
| pop33            = 2,384 (2020)
| ref33            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/romania-refugee-and-migrant-figures-for-2020 |title=Romania: Refugee and migrant figures for 2020 |publisher= |date=March 30, 201 |access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>
| region34         = {{flagu|Kyrgyzstan}}
| pop34            = 2,000 (2002)
| ref34            = <ref>[https://go-api.ifrc.org/publicfile/download?path=/docs/appeals/01/&name=320123.pdf IFRC document]</ref>
| languages        = [[Pashto]], [[Dari]] and other [[languages of Afghanistan]]
| religions        = '''Predominantly''': [[Islam]]<br />{{nowrap|([[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] majority and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] minority)}}<br /> '''Minority''':    [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], Christianity, [[Zoroastrianism]], Judaism, [[Baháʼí Faith]]
| related_groups   = [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], [[Uzbeks]]
| poptime          = 
| region35         = {{flagu|Ireland}}
| pop35            = 1,200 (2019)
| ref35            = <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/up-to-500-relatives-of-afghans-in-state-to-be-offered-temporary-residency-1.4685218 | title=Up to 500 relatives of Afghans in State to be offered temporary residency | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref>
| region36         = {{flagu|Spain}}
| pop36            = 300–2,500 (2018)
| ref36            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trt.net.tr/espanol/programas/2018/07/10/los-afganos-latinoamericanos-1009497|title=Los afganos latinoamericanos|publisher=TRT Español|website=www.trt.net.tr}}</ref>
| region37         = {{flagu|Portugal}}
| pop37            = 883
| ref37            = <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.publico.pt/2022/08/14/sociedade/reportagem/ano-chegado-quarto-refugiados-afegaos-saiu-portugal-2017051 | title=Um ano depois, um quarto dos refugiados afegãos saiu de Portugal
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/portugal-new-agency-migration-and-asylum_en | title=Portugal: New agency for migration and asylum}}</ref>
}}

'''Afghans''' ({{langx|prs|افغان‌ها}}; {{langx|ps|افغانان}}) are the citizens and nationals of [[Afghanistan]], as well as their descendants in the [[Afghan diaspora]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Afghan|title=Dictionary.com &#124; Meanings & Definitions of English Words|website=Dictionary.com|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author =Garner, Bryan |year=2009 |title=Garner's Modern American Usage |edition=third|location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FwmQpyibKkAC&pg=PA27 27] |isbn=978-0-19-538275-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author1=Siegal, Allan M.  |author2=Connolly, William |year=2015 |title=The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage |edition=fifth |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=o2E5BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT18 18] |isbn=978-1-336-02484-7}}</ref> The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], and [[Uzbeks]] are the largest. The three main languages spoken among the Afghan people are [[Dari]], [[Pashto]], and [[Southern Uzbek language|Uzbek]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of Afghanistan|url=https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|access-date=2 September 2020|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829115048/https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AO">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan |url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028065437/http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html |archive-date=28 October 2013 |access-date=13 June 2012 |quote=Dari and Pashto are the official languages of the state. Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are—in addition to Pashto—the second official language in areas where the majority speaks them.}}</ref> Historically, the term "Afghan" [[Afghan (ethnonym)|was a Pashtun ethnonym]], but later came to refer to all people in the country, regardless of their ethnicity.

==Etymology==
{{main|Afghan (ethnonym)}}
The earliest mention of the name ''Afghan'' (''Abgân'') is by [[Shapur I]] of the [[Sassanid Empire]] during the 3rd century CE,<ref name="Britannica-Abgan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7798/Afghanistan/129450/History?anchor=ref261360|title=History of Afghanistan|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|access-date=2010-11-22}}</ref><ref name="Habibi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Afghan_and_Afghanistan.htm |title=Afghan and Afghanistan |work=[[Abdul Hai Habibi]]|publisher=alamahabibi.com|year=1969|access-date=2010-10-24}}</ref><ref name="Abgan">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan -a country without a state?|last1=Noelle-Karimi|first1=Christine|author2=Conrad J. Schetter|author3=Reinhard Schlagintweit|year=2002|publisher=IKO|location=[[University of Michigan]], United States|isbn=3-88939-628-3|page=18|quote=''The earliest mention of the name 'Afghan' (Abgan) is to be found in a Sasanid inscription from the 3rd century, and it appears in India in the form of 'Avagana'...''|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo3tAAAAMAAJ|access-date=2010-09-24}}</ref> In the 4th century, the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to the Pashtun people is mentioned in the [[Bactria]]n documents found in Northern Afghanistan.<ref name="Barkhuis">{{cite book |last1=Balogh |first1=Dániel |title=Hunnic Peoples in Central and South Asia: Sources for their Origin and History |date=12 March 2020 |publisher=Barkhuis |isbn=978-94-93194-01-4 |pages=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=frnVDwAAQBAJ&q=bunukan&pg=PA144 |language=en |quote=[ To Ormuzd Bunukan, ... greetings and homage from ... ), Pithe ( sot ] ang ( ? ) of Parpaz ( under ) [ the glorious ) yabghu of [ Heph ] thal, the chief ... of the Afghans}}</ref><ref name="Bactrian documents from northern Af">{{cite book |last1=Sims-Williams |first1=Nicholas |title=Bactrian documents from northern Afghanistan |date=2000 |publisher=The Nour Foundation in association with Azimuth Editions and Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=1-874780-92-7}}</ref> The word 'Afghan' is of [[Persian language|Persian]] origin and refers to the Pashtun people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of AFGHAN|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afghan|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words ''awajan/apajan'' in [[Avestan]] and ''ava-Han/apa-Han'' in [[Sanskrit]], which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the [[Sasanians]], and possibly the [[Parthian Empire]], the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect.{{sfn|Fikrat|Umar|2008}} In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e. the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana, the name of the ''[[Aśvaka]]n'' or ''Assakan'', the ancient inhabitants of the [[Hindu Kush]] region. Some have theorized that the name of the ''Aśvakan'' or ''Assakan'' has been preserved in that of the modern [[Pashtun]], with the name Afghan being derived from [[Aśvaka|Asvakan]].<ref>''"The name Afghan has evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian... "'' (Megasthenes and Arrian, p 180. See also: Alexander's Invasion of India, p 38; J.W. McCrindle).</ref><ref>Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol I, fn 6; also Vol II, p 129, et al.</ref><ref>Etude Sur la Geog Grecque & c, pp 39–47, M. V. de Saint Martin.</ref><ref>The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1891, p 83, Élisée Reclus – Geography.</ref><ref>''"Even the name Afghan is Aryan being derived from Asvakayana, an important clan of the Asvakas or horsemen who must have derived this title from their handling of celebrated breeds of horses"'' (See: Imprints of Indian Thought and Culture abroad, p 124, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan).</ref><ref>cf: ''"Their name (Afghan) means "cavalier" being derived from the [[Sanskrit]], ''Asva'', or ''Asvaka'', a horse, and shows that their country must have been noted in ancient times, as it is at the present day, for its superior breed of horses. Asvaka was an important tribe settled north to Kabul river, which offered a gallant resistance but ineffectual resistance to the arms of Alexander "''(Ref: Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1999, p 275, Royal Scottish Geographical Society).</ref><ref>''"Afghans are Assakani of the [[Greeks]]; this word being the [[Sanskrit]] [[Ashvaka]] meaning 'horsemen' " ''  (Ref: Sva, 1915, p 113, Christopher Molesworth Birdwood).</ref><ref>Cf: ''"The name represents Sanskrit Asvaka in the sense of a ''cavalier'', and this reappears scarcely modified in the Assakani or Assakeni of the historians of the expedition of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]" '' (Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial [[Anglo-Indian]] words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological..by Henry Yule, AD Burnell).</ref>

As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, [[Pashto|language]] or culture". According to the [[1964 Afghanistan Constitution|1964 Constitution of Afghanistan]], all Afghans citizens are equal in rights and obligations before the law.<ref>{{cite web|title=Article 1 of the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.afghan-web.com/history/const/const1964.html|publisher=Government of Afghanistan|access-date=June 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917002320/http://www.afghan-web.com/history/const/const1964.html|archive-date=2011-09-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fourth article of the [[Constitution of Afghanistan|Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]], which was valid until 2021, states that citizens of Afghanistan consist of Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]], [[Afghan Qizilbash|Qizilbash]], [[Gurjar]], [[Brahui people|Brahui]], and members of other ethnicities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/page/constitution|quote=National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess the citizenship of Afghanistan. The nation of Afghanistan shall be {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui and other tribes. The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. The citizenship and asylum related matters shall be regulated by law.|year=2004|access-date=2013-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804082548/http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/page/constitution|archive-date=2016-08-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are political disputes regarding this: there are members of the non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan that reject the term Afghan being applied to them, and there are Pashtuns in Pakistan that wish to have the term Afghan applied to them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-politics-idUKKBN1FS1WH|title=Who is an Afghan? Row over ID cards fuels ethnic tension|newspaper=Reuters|date=February 8, 2018|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/2/6/qa-afghanistans-tajiks-plea-for-federalism|title=Q&A: Afghanistan's Tajiks plea for federalism|first=Hashmatallah|last=Moslih|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theglobepost.com/2018/05/25/afghanistan-identity-politics/|title=Identity Politics in Afghanistan: Nation-State or State-Nation?|date=May 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nikvalentini.medium.com/nation-identity-and-the-future-of-afghanistan-aa47d6f17bf2|title=Nation, identity and the future of Afghanistan|first=Nicole|last=Valentini|date=July 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbNyrg83Q0A|title=Miranshah PTM Jalsa Lar Ao bar Nary لر او بر یو افغان|date=15 November 2020 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

===Usage as an ethnonym===
The pre-nation state, historical ethnonym [[Afghan (ethnonym)|Afghan]] was used to refer to a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. Due to the changing political nature of the state, the meaning has changed, and the term has shifted to refer to the [[national identity]] of people from Afghanistan of all ethnicities.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/johnson/2011/09/21/ask-johnson-afghans-afghanis-afghanistanis|title=Ask Johnson: Afghans, Afghanis, Afghanistanis|date=September 21, 2011|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref><ref name="Kieffer">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afgan-in-current-political-usage-any-citizen-of-afghanistan-whatever-his-ethnic-tribal-or-religious-affiliation |title=Afghan |first=Ch. M. |last=Kieffer |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |quote=From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "Afḡān" is the term by which the Persian-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Paṧtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Paṧtūn. The equation Afghans = Paṧtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Paṧtūn tribal confederation is by far the most important in the country, numerically and politically. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116233835/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afgan-in-current-political-usage-any-citizen-of-afghanistan-whatever-his-ethnic-tribal-or-religious-affiliation |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="ABCBBCARD">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1083a1Afghanistan2009.pdf |title=ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll – Afghanistan: Where Things Stand |pages=38–40 |work=ABC News |location=Kabul, Afghanistan |access-date=29 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628130800/https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1083a1Afghanistan2009.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2011}}</ref>

From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "''Afḡhān''" is the term by which the [[Dari|Persian]]-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Pashtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Pashtūn. The equation Afghans = Pashtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Pashtūn tribal confederation has maintained its hegemony in the country, numerically and politically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Encyclopaedia Iranica |title=Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=https://iranicaonline.org/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=iranicaonline.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Variations===
The term ''Afghani'' refers to the unit of [[Afghan afghani|Afghan currency]]. The term is also often used in the English language (and appears in some dictionaries) for a person or thing related to Afghanistan, although some have expressed the opinion that this usage is incorrect.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2001 |title=Chatterbox: More on 'Afghani' |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2001/10/more_on_afghani.html |access-date=March 29, 2013 |website=[[Slate.com|Slate]]}}</ref> The reason for this usage might be because the term "Afghani" (افغانی) is in fact a valid demonym for Afghans in the overall [[Persian language]], whereas "Afghan" is derived from Pashto. Thus, "Afghan" is the [[Anglicisation|anglicized]] form of "Afghani" when translating from Dari Persian, but not from Pashto.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2, 2001 |title=Afghan vs. Afghani, Part 3 |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2001/12/afghan-vs-afghani-part-3.html |access-date=October 1, 2021 |website=[[Slate.com|Slate]]}}</ref> Another variant is ''Afghanese'', which has been seldom used in place of Afghan.<ref>{{cite book |author=George Newenham Wright |title=A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer, Volume 3 |year=1836}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=VanBurenTN18781018-01.1.7&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------|title=True Northerner 18 October 1878 — Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection|website=digmichnews.cmich.edu|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 October 2017 |title=Beauty is the quiet of the self forgotten |url=https://jkrishnamurti.org/content/beauty-quiet-self-forgotten}}</ref>

==Ethnicities==
[[File:Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic Groups 1982.jpg|thumb|Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan and its surroundings (1982).]]
{{main|Ethnic groups in Afghanistan}}
Afghans come from various ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups are [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], and [[Uzbeks]], who make up approximately 95% of the population of Afghanistan. They are of diverse origins including of [[Iranic peoples|Iranic]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] or [[Mongolic peoples|Mongolic]] ethnolinguistic roots.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The Arbiters of Afghanistan|author=Anatol Lieven|journal=The National Interest|year=2016|issue=145|pages=28–36|publisher=Center for the National Interest|jstor=26557334|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26557334}}</ref>

==Religions==
{{main|Religion in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Blue Mosque in the northern Afghan city in 2012.jpg|thumb|The [[Hazrat Ali Mazar|Masjid-e-Kabud]], popularly known as the ''Blue Mosque'', in [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], Balkh Province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2012.]]
The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of [[Islam]], of whom around 90% are of [[Sunni]] and 10% the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] branch. Other religious minorities include the [[Afghan Hindus]], [[Afghan Sikhs]], [[Afghan Zoroastrians]], [[Afghan Jews]] and [[Afghan Christians]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghan Culture – Religion |url=http://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/afghan-culture/afghan-culture-religion |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Cultural Atlas |date=January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Afghanistan}}Afghan culture has existed for over three millennia, dating back to the time of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] in 500 BCE. Afghans have both common cultural features and those that differ between regions with each of the [[Provinces of Afghanistan|34 provinces]] having its own unique distinctive cultures partly as a result of geographic obstacles that divide the country. Afghanistan's culture is historically linked to nearby [[Persia]], including both countries following the [[Islam|Islamic religion]], the [[Solar Hijri calendar]] and speaking similar languages, this is due to Iran and Afghanistan being culturally close to each other for thousands of years.

==See also==
{{portal|Afghanistan}}
* [[Demographics of Afghanistan]]
* [[Afghan (ethnonym)]]
* [[Name of Afghanistan]]
* [[Afghan diaspora]]

{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{Encyclopaedia Islamica|last1=Fikrat|first1=Mohammad Asef|last2=Umar|first2=Suheyl|title=Afghan|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-islamica/afghan-COM_0185?s.num=22&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-islamica&s.start=20&s.q=tabrizi|year=2008}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFFikratUmar2008}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.hotrecentnews.com/en/tag/afghan Afghan News]

{{European Muslims}}
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[[Category:Afghan people|*]]
[[Category:Exonyms]]