Ghilzai

The Ghilzais (also known under the name of Khiljis or Ghaljis ) are one of the two greater groups of Pachtounes, with the tribe Durrani, which one finds in Afghanistan and to a lesser extent with the close Pakistan. They are the most important tribe pachtoune in Afghanistan, occupying the area in the north of Kandahar which extends towards the Mont Suleyman.

Ghilzais are concentrated in a zone between Ghazni and Kalat-i-Ghilzai in the east on the territory of Western Pakistan. This group is mainly wandering, contrary to Durrani which is rather sedentary. The estimates of population can vary but account for approximately 20 to 25% of the Afghan population, and probably a number of 9 million in Afghanistan alone and 2 million in Pakistan. Like all Pachtounes, Ghilzais descend from the Aryan tribes and speak the Pachto. It is possible that they also go down from the Khalaj Turks (or Khilji), who entered to Afghanistan at the 10th century at the same time as of other invaders of Central Asia and the the Middle East. The majority of Ghilzais are Moslem Sunnite S of the school Hanafite, are often very devout and follow also the code of known honor pachtoune under names Pashtounwali . The majority of Ghilzais work as stockbreeders but also in the construction industry and other trades enabling them to travel. They very low have a rate of Alphabétisation from approximately 10%.

Ghilzais played a paramount role in the history of the Middle East, the Central Asia and the South Asia. The dynasty Ghaznévide was Ghilzais, as well as the Dynastie of Lodi, which reigned on the Sultanat of Delhi (1450 - 1526). In 1709, Mir wais Khan, Pachtoun Ghilzai, founded the dynasty Hotaki (1709 - 1738), which supported the bursting of a tribal revolt against the Persan Masters who brought the Afghan domination of the Iran of 1722 to 1734 by Mahmoud (Ghilzai) then by Ashraf (Ghilzai) before Nâdir Châh does not take again the capacity in Iran.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Sher Khan Nasher gained a great political influence as Khan Ghilzai which became governor of Kunduz. It was followed of his son, Gholam Serwar Nasher which directed the Spinzar company, and of its nephew, the member of Parliament Gholam Nabi Nasher. For the period of the Soviet invasion of the Afghanistan, many moudjahidines was also of Pachtounes Ghilzai, such as for example Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The leaders and the rows of the Taliban S were also full with Ghilzais, which placed them contrary to the political scene compared to their Durrani cousins, who are currently represented in the government of Hamid Karzai.

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