afghan

Afghan is a demonym and adjective associated with Afghanistan, a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It can refer to a person from Afghanistan or to things connected with the country, including its culture, history, or institutions. The capital and largest city is Kabul; the landscape includes mountains, deserts, and river valleys.

Afghanistan is ethnically diverse. The largest groups are Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks, with smaller communities such as Aimaqs, Balochs and Turkmen. The country has two official languages, Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto, and many other languages are spoken regionally. Dari is commonly used in government and media alongside Pashto.

Cultural traditions include literature, music, and crafts shaped by centuries of trade and, more recently, conflict and reform. The Afghan Hound is a distinct dog breed historically associated with Afghanistan. In English, the term afghan commonly denotes a crocheted or knitted blanket, a usage that has entered everyday language in many regions.

Afghan communities have formed diasporas in neighboring Pakistan and Iran, and in Europe, North America, and Australia, reflecting migration and upheaval over decades. The term Afghan, when used in international contexts, can thus refer to people, foods, art, and other items linked to Afghanistan.