Gilzai

The Ghilzai, also spelled Ghilji or Gilzai, are one of the largest Pashtun tribal confederations. They are primarily concentrated in southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan, with a presence in provinces such as Kandahar, Helmand, Ghazni, and Zabul, and affiliated communities in Balochistan and adjacent areas. The confederation comprises numerous sub-tribes, including the Hotak, Tokhi, Alizai, Mangal, and Suleiman Khel groups, among others. As a major component of Pashtun society, the Ghilzai are organized around customary tribal structures and kinship networks, while also participating in broader political processes.

History and influence have shaped the Ghilzai over several centuries. In the early 18th century, Mir Wais Hotak of the Hotak subgroup led a rebellion against Safavid Iran and founded the Hotak dynasty (1709–1738), marking a high point of Ghilzai political power. The Ghilzai have interacted with other Pashtun confederations, notably the Durrani (Abdali), in the broader processes of Afghan state formation. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, alliances and rivalries with neighboring groups influenced regional dynamics and state-building efforts in what is now Afghanistan.

In modern times, Ghilzai communities have continued to play significant roles in Afghan politics, security, and regional affairs. Sub-tribal leaders and networks within the confederation contribute to local governance and command influence in various provinces. The Ghilzai remain a key ethnographic and political element of Afghan society, with ongoing ties to communities in neighboring countries and in the diaspora.