Kakar

Kakar refers to a Pashtun tribal group. The Kakars are one of many tribes within the Pashtun ethnolinguistic family, and they are most commonly associated with southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan, including areas of Balochistan and nearby border regions. They typically speak Pashto and practice Islam, with local variations in religious and cultural practice dependent on subtribe and locality.

As with other Pashtun tribes, the Kakars are organized along clan lines, with subtribes forming extended kin networks. Traditional leadership tends to be held by elders or clan chiefs within subtribes, and Pashtunwali, the customary code of the Pashtuns, influences social behavior, dispute resolution, and hospitality practices. The social structure emphasizes honor, hospitality, and community responsibility.

Historically, Kakars have been engaged in agriculture, pastoralism, and trade, adapting to changing political and economic landscapes in the region. In modern times, members of the Kakar community have participated in Afghan and Pakistani political, military, and administrative life, and the diaspora has spread to various countries due to migration and conflict.

The surname Kakar is used by families who trace their ancestry to the Kakar tribe in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In contemporary contexts, individuals bearing the name may be found across public life, including politics, academia, and business. The name is sometimes transliterated Kakār in different scripts.

See also: Pashtun, Pashto, list of Pashtun tribes.