pashtun tribes

 As for as i know afghanistan is the proper homeland of pathans .Most of the pashtun tribes in pakistan have migrated from region of the present day afghanistan to adjacent indian areas constituiting nowadays N.W.F.P province of pakistan commonly called pakhtunistan.

   There were two types of migration occured few centuries ago

1-Migration to present day pakistan

2-Migartion to india

 

    Pathan tribes used to migrate as a whole tribe from one place to other. One of the first tribe who migrated to northern portion of N.W.F.P province of pakistan ( at that time it was a region of hindustan) was Dilazak tribe who get assimilated with local people unable to maintain their race and culture. Two centuries later yousafzai a large and powerful pathan tribe arrived from a region near kabul to here to find already an organized people claiming themselves afghans. Yousafzais refused to accept them afghans (because of their darker looks and semi pathan culture) and started a war against them to occupy their regions and drive them from that valley( later called as yousafzai valley) .This fights continued for decades eventually result in total destruction of dilazaks ,those survived fled to india.(today dilazak is an almost extinct tribe of pashtun).

    Yousafzais never assimilated into locals and remain pashtun.Other tribes like khalils,mohammends,mohammedzai,karlanris etc also migrated from afghansitan and settled near yousafzais regions to transform the region totally into afghan dominted area.

    Similarly southern portion  of N.W.F.P was get settled by tribes migrated from ghilzai afghan area including lodhi and lohani tribes. Most of these tribes were defeated by powerful tribes in afghanistan result in their search of new ares for settlement. these large scale migrations created a homogenious region of afghans from chitral to D.I khan district.

  Pathans of these region extend only the region of afghanistan to indus river. they were succesful in preserving their identity because the region before their arrival lack any significiant population.Few centuries later this region became centre of pashtun power and also became secondary source of pathan migations.

  But it should be rememberd that pashtun region of balochistan province and some tribal agencies are part of orignal land of pashtuns.

 

 Not all the tribes shifted to adjacent areas of afghanistan but some also migrated to distant india.The first  true pathan tribe to move into india was lodhi tribe. Lodhis were successful in establishing rule in india. they needed their menpower of their countrmen which would strengthened their rule in india. So sultan bhalol lodhi invited pathan families in afghanistan to try their fortune in india.Only few and weak tribe of pashtuns accepted invitation and migrated to alien lands of india. The migration of individual pathans continued untill the end of lodhi dyanasty by moghals. Lodhi empire was basically a governament based on tribal system. Tribal leaders were very powerful and army was organized on tribal basis. Every tribe was given certain reion to rule and manage.

They were not united and usually one tribe used to fight with other.When moghals arrived they destroy their organistan and made them weak.

  The final blow was given to the pathan power in india by suris who were themselves pathans. Sher shah suri snatched power moghal hamayun and once again established pathan dyansty in india but with different mood. he was fearful from pathan tribal leaders and respective tribal unity so he dispersed concentreted pathan colonies and sent individual pathan families into different parts of country including  bengal. He forcibly settle pathans (belonginf different tribes of pashtuns) in Bengal and gave them land. This was a cruel act and few centuries later pathans in bengal lost their identity. when moghals defeated suris and established rule ,their power was never challenged by afghans because of their dispersed conditions carried out by sher shah suri.

 the second and last pathan migration into india was in 18th century.these  were bangashes and yousfzais occupying farrukabad and rohilkhand respectively.

To the time of partition of india in 1947 many princely states were ruled by pathans.

Rampur   ruled by rohilla pathans

Palanpur  ruled by lohani afghans

Bhopal   ruled by aurakzai pathans

jonagadh   ruled by babar pathans

tonk         ruled by yousafzi or rohilla pathans

malerkotla   ruled by sherani afghans

 

It is not determined whether afghans are second most populaous group in punjab. but yes afghans or pathans are very numerous in pakistani punjab( all pathans in east pakistan migrated to pakistan in 1947). Doaba was once known as mini afghanistan due large afghan colonies.

 Following are magor afghans or pathan groups.

     These pathans belonging to different tribes have migrated centuries ago into punjab and live in different districts of punjab. i have met several these type of pathans. they speak punjabi and look like punjabis. They only claim pathan origin but do not follow pashtun culture..  

These pathans have also came from afghansitan , have preserved some of pathan identites specialy by multani pathans. But they don not speak pashto. They now their tribes and sub-tribes , an essential thing for a pathan to know.

  pathans in kasur have migrated 5 centuris ago and populated the whole of kasur region.they were  kheshgi afghans and have their distict history in kasur. they are now in state of dicline and kasur is rapidly become punjabi again.

 Multani pathans are mostly durrani tribes migrated in the times of durrani rule on punjab. they have their own villages in punjab.

these are pure pathans live in areas of punjab adjacent to pakhtunistan. These include districts of Mianwali, attock and D.G khan.These pathans have only forgot their langauge in 100 years but have maintained their culture ,traditions and physical featues of pashtuns.

  Pashtun in mianwali are mostly niazis but also include other tribes. Mianwali is an essentailly pashtun dominated district.

 Many regions of attock are pathan- dominated  of khattack and yousafzai tribe. Overall pathans are a magority group.

 Although D.G.khan is a baloch dominated district but there is about a large population of 180000 pashtuns from mainly khatrani tribe.

 

 

puff.... where is Pashtonistan? i do not see a country, or region by that name.... the actual country, father land, mother land and identity of Afghan/Pashtons are land of Afghan---Afghanistan!