| Revision as of 20:50, 19 July 2003 view source63.224.75.138 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:53, 19 July 2003 view source Evercat (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users16,518 edits rewordNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| The term '''Pashtun''', or '''Pushtun''' or '''Pakhtun''', describes a group of people living in ] and along the eastern border of ]. It is also the name of ]. Pashtuns form about 11% of ]'s population and 45% of ]'s. | The term '''Pashtun''', or '''Pushtun''' or '''Pakhtun''', describes a group of people living in ] and along the eastern border of ]. It is also the name of ]. Pashtuns form about 11% of ]'s population and 45% of ]'s. | ||
| Because word "Afghan" was name of Pashtun tribe before British, Pashtun are |
Because the word "Afghan" was the name of the Pashtun tribe before the British came, the Pashtun are called the "true Afghans" by some. | ||
| During the ] the Pashtuns were called "Pathans" by the British. The word '''Afghan''' also originally meant Pashtun, this use of the word remaining in many parts of ]. The 19th century partition of ] by the British between ] (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan remains a sore point to this day. | During the ] the Pashtuns were called "Pathans" by the British. The word '''Afghan''' also originally meant Pashtun, this use of the word remaining in many parts of ]. The 19th century partition of ] by the British between ] (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan remains a sore point to this day. | ||
Revision as of 20:53, 19 July 2003
The term Pashtun, or Pushtun or Pakhtun, describes a group of people living in Pakistan and along the eastern border of Afghanistan. It is also the name of their language. Pashtuns form about 11% of Pakistan's population and 45% of Afghanistan's.
Because the word "Afghan" was the name of the Pashtun tribe before the British came, the Pashtun are called the "true Afghans" by some.
During the British Raj the Pashtuns were called "Pathans" by the British. The word Afghan also originally meant Pashtun, this use of the word remaining in many parts of Afghanistan. The 19th century partition of Pashtunistan by the British between India (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan remains a sore point to this day.
The Pashtun people are predominantly Sunni Muslim and formed the backbone of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.