Kakars

Kakars is a name used for a Pashtun tribe and as a surname among people of Pashtun heritage. The Kakars are one of the Pashtun tribes inhabiting the region that straddles present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The ethnonym Kakar is of Pashto origin. The Kakars are described as part of the broader Pashtun ethnolinguistic group, with subtribal divisions and lineages.

Their core traditional homeland lies in southern Afghanistan and the Balochistan region of Pakistan; smaller groups are found elsewhere in the region, including Iran.

Members usually speak Pashto; some are bilingual with Dari or Persian, Balochi, or Urdu. Tribal codes such as Pashtunwali influence customary practices, and family and clan ties remain important.

Across centuries the Kakars have interacted with various empires and neighboring communities, contributing to trade routes and local governance in the borderlands. As with many Pashtun tribes, migration and settlement patterns have shifted due to economic and political pressures.