Pathan

Pathan, also spelled Pashtun, is an ethnicity native to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. They are concentrated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with smaller communities in Iran and among diasporas globally. The Pathan identity centers on the Pashto language and a long-standing system of tribes and clans.

Pathan people speak Pashto, an Iranian language with several dialects such as Kandhari and Durrani. They are organized into tribes and confederations, notably the Durrani and Ghilzai. Pashtunwali, a traditional code of conduct emphasizing hospitality, honor, and refuge, continues to influence social life in rural areas and interacts with formal law.

Historically, Pathans formed polities on the eastern frontier. The Durrani Confederation founded the Afghan state in 1747. British-Indian and Afghan interactions shaped regional borders and politics through the 19th and 20th centuries. In Pakistan, Pathans are a major constituent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, with significant urban populations in cities like Karachi. In Afghanistan, Pashtuns have played prominent roles in politics, state-building, and conflicts.

Today, the Pathan or Pashtun population is diverse in politics and culture, reflecting regional variation and urbanization. The term Pathan remains common in some contexts, but many prefer Pashtun or Pashto to emphasize linguistic and ethnic identity over colonial nomenclature.