Ghilji

The Ghilji (also spelled Ghilzai) are one of the largest confederations of Pashtun tribes, primarily in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan. They are traditionally centered in southern and eastern Afghanistan, with communities in Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Uruzgan, Paktia, and Paktika, and with dispersed populations across the border in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The confederacy includes numerous sub-tribes, such as Hotak, Tokhi, Alizai, Babai, and others. These groups vary in size and settlement patterns, with some members traditionally semi-nomadic and others settled in villages and towns.

Historically, the Ghilji rose to prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries. A Ghilji-led faction, under Mir Wais Hotak, founded the Hotak dynasty and controlled parts of Afghanistan and Iran (1709–1725). Later, the Durrani (Abdali) dynasty expanded the Afghan state in the mid-18th century; Ahmad Shah Durrani emerged from an environment shaped by Ghilji political influence, illustrating enduring rivalries and alliances between confederations. The Ghilji played a central role in Afghan power dynamics, contributing leaders to successive regimes and engaging in conflicts with external powers, including the British during the 19th century.

In the modern era, Ghilji communities are concentrated in Afghanistan’s southern and eastern provinces and have been active in regional politics and security. In Pakistan, they are found mainly in border areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Culture and language: Ghilji Pashtuns are predominantly Sunni Muslims who speak Pashto. They share the broader Pashtunwali code and customary practices that govern intertribal relations.