Ghilzai

The Ghilzai, also known as the Ghiljī or Khilji are a prominent tribe of Pashtuns and largest tribe in Pashtun. Their traditional homeland are the regions of Ghazni, Kandahar and Qalat in Afghanistan and are also settled in other regions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan tribal area and communicate in all dialects of Pashto.

Ghilzai women of Afghanistan

Tribes

They are one of the largest branches of Pashtuns made up of many tribes from within such as the following:

• Tarakai
• Ahmadzai
• Suleimankhel
• Kharoti
• Hotak
• Nasar
• Akakhel
• Andar

History

The Ghilzai were a largely powerful group of Pashtuns who led resistance and conquered many powers. The Khilji Dynasty of India defeated the Mongols and prevented them from entering India. The Hotaki tribe from Kandahār founded the Hotaki dynasty which ruled over Persia under its leader Mirwais Hotak.

The Ghilzais are thought to be Turkic, as DNA evidence shows proof & a speculation that they were originally the Khalaj people, a Turkic group in Iran.^[1]

Famous people

Many presidents, soldiers and revolutionaries were apart of this tribe including:

• Nur Muhammad Tarakai, Afghan revolutionary who led the Saur Revolution
• Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai, President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
• Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
• Hafizullah Amin, Afghan communist of the Kharoti tribe
• Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Afghan mojahiddin leader

Related pages

• Durrani
• Yusufzai