Afghans: Difference between revisions

Afghans
افغان‌ها (Dari); افغانان (Pashto)
	Map of the Afghan diaspora: Afghanistan + 1,000,000 + 100,000 + 10,000 + 1,000
Total population
	53 million[citation needed] (est.)
Regions with significant populations
	Diaspora:; 9,085,784+[citation needed]
Iran	c. 5 million (2023)
Pakistan	1,285,754 (2022)
Germany	425,000 (2022)
United States	300,000 (2022)
UAE	300,000 (2023)
Russia	150,000 (2017)
Turkey	129,323 (2021)
Canada	125,305 (2022)
United Kingdom	79,000 (2019)
Sweden	67,738 (2023)
Australia	59,797 (2021)
The Netherlands	51,830 (2021)
France	41,174 (2021)
Greece	21,456 (2021)
Ukraine	20,000 (2001)
Denmark	18,018 (2017)
India	15,806 (2021)
Austria	44,918 (2023)
Switzerland	14,523 (2021)
Finland	12,044 (2021)
Italy	11,121–12,096 (2021)
Norway	24,823 (2022)
Uzbekistan	10,000 (2022)
Israel	10,000 (2012)
Indonesia	7,629 (2021)[citation needed]
Tajikistan	6,775 (2021)
Qatar	4,000 (2012)
Japan	3,509 (2020)
New Zealand	3,414 (2013)
Malaysia	2,661 (2021)
Kazakhstan	2,500+ (2021)
Romania	2,384 (2020)
Brazil	3,000 – 4,000 (2022)
Kyrgyzstan	2,000 (2002)
Ireland	1,200 (2019)
Bhutan	300–2,500 (2018)
Portugal	883
Languages
	Pashto, Dari and other languages of Afghanistan
Religion
	Predominantly: Islam; (Sunni majority and Shia minority); Minority: Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Baháʼí Faith
Related ethnic groups
	Tajiks, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Uzbeks

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Revision as of 14:40, 14 August 2024

Afghans (Dari: افغان‌ها; Pashto: افغانان) are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, as well as their descendants in the Afghan diaspora.^[40]^[41]^[42] The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks are the largest. The three main languages spoken among the Afghan people are Dari, Pashto, and Uzbek.^[43]^[44] Historically, the term "Afghan" was a Pashtun ethnonym, but later came to refer to all people in the country, regardless of their ethnicity.

Etymology

The earliest mention of the name Afghan (Abgân) is by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire during the 3rd century CE,^[45]^[46]^[47] In the 4th century the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to the Pashtun people is mentioned in the Bactrian documents found in Northern Afghanistan.^[48]^[49] The word 'Afghan' is of Persian origin to refer to the Pashtun people.^[50] Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words awajan/apajan in Avestan and ava-Han/apa-Han in Sanskrit, which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the Sasanians, and possibly the Parthian Empire, the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect.^[51] In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e.the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana the name of the Aśvakan or Assakan, ancient inhabitants of the Hindu Kush region. Some have theorized that name of the Aśvakan or Assakan has been preserved in that of the modern Pashtun, with the name Afghan being derived from Asvakan.^[52]^[53]^[54]^[55]^[56]^[57]^[58]^[59]

As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, language or culture". According to the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan, all Afghans citizens are equal in rights and obligations before the law.^[60] The fourth article of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which was valid until 2021 states that citizens of Afghanistan consist of Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, Kyrgyz, Qizilbash, Gurjar, Brahui, and members of other ethnicities.^[61] There are political disputes regarding this: there are members of the non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan that reject the term Afghan being applied to them, and there are Pashtuns in Pakistan that wish to have the term Afghan applied to them.^[62]^[63]^[64]^[65]^[66]

Usage as an ethnonym

The pre-nation state, historical ethnonym Afghan was used to refer to a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. Due to the changing political nature of the state the meaning has changed, and term has shifted to be the national identity of people from Afghanistan from all ethnicities.^[67]^[68]^[69]

From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "Afḡhān" is the term by which the Persian-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Pashtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Pashtūn. The equation Afghans = Pashtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Pashtūn tribal confederation has maintained its hegemony in the country, numerically and politically.^[70]

Variations

The less common Afghanistani (افغانستانی) is an alternative identity marker for citizens of Afghanistan. The term "Afghanistani" refers to someone who possesses the nationality of Afghanistan,^[71] regardless of what race, ethnic, religious background.^[72]^[73] In multiethnic Afghanistan, the term "Afghan" has always been associated with Pashtun people. Some non-Pashtun citizens such as Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks have viewed it as a part of Pashtun hegemony that devised to erase their ethnic identity.^[74]^[75] The term Afghanistani has been used among some refugees and diasporas, particularly among non-Pashtuns.^[76]^[77]^[78]

The term Afghani refers to the unit of Afghan currency. The term is also often used in the English language (and appears in some dictionaries) for a person or thing related to Afghanistan, although some have expressed the opinion that this usage is incorrect.^[79] A reason for this usage can be because the term "Afghani" (افغانی) is in fact a valid demonym for Afghans in the overall Persian language, whereas "Afghan" is derived from Pashto. Thus "Afghan" is the anglicized term of "Afghani" when translating from Dari Persian, but not Pashto.^[80] Another variant is Afghanese, which has been seldom used in place of Afghan.^[81]^[82]^[83]

Ethnicities

Afghans come from various ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups are Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks, who make up approximately 95% of the population of Afghanistan. They are of diverse origins including of Iranic, Turkic or Mongolic ethnolinguistic roots.^[84]

Religions

The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of Islam, of whom around 90% are of Sunni and 10% the Shia branch. Other religious minorities include the Afghan Hindus, Afghan Sikhs, Afghan Zoroastrians, Afghan Jews and Afghan Christians.^[85]

Culture

Afghan culture has existed for over three millennia, dating back to the time of the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BCE. Afghans have both common cultural features and those that differ between regions with each of the 34 provinces having its own unique distinctive cultures partly as a result of geographic obstacles that divide the country. Afghanistan's culture is historically linked to nearby Persia, including both countries following the Islamic religion, the Solar Hijri calendar and speaking similar languages, this is due to Iran and Afghanistan being culturally close to each other for thousands of years.

References

^ "22". The population of Afghanistan in 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
^ "Iran's Interior Minister – The presence of more than 5 million Afghan immigrants in Iran". www.isna.ir. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
^ "Situations". data2.unhcr.org. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
^ "Statistischer Bericht – Mikrozensus – Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund – Erstergebnisse 2022". 20 April 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ "Welcome allied-media.com - BlueHost.com". Allied-media.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
^ Shahbandari, Shafaat (30 November 2012). "Afghans take hope from UAE's achievements". Gulf News. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
^ "Moscow's 'Little Kabul'". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. 25 December 2017.
^ "The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border". The New Humanitarian. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ "Canada Census Profile 2021". Census Profile, 2021 Census. Statistics Canada Statistique Canada. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
^ "Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates – Canada – Admissions of Permanent Residents by Country of Citizenship". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
^ "Table 1.3: Overseas-born population in the United Kingdom, excluding some residents in communal establishments, by sex, by country of birth, January 2019 to December 2019". Office for National Statistics. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95% confidence intervals.
^ "Population statistics".
^ "People in Australia who were born in Afghanistan". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
^ "CBS Statline".
^ "Afghanistan. Comment sont répartis les réfugiés afghans dans le monde ?". 2 September 2021.
^ ^a ^b Calcea, Nicu (19 August 2021). "How the US and the UK accept far fewer Afghan refugees than other countries". New Statesman. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
^ Свобода, Радіо (8 October 2001). "Афганська громада України". Радіо Свобода. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
^ "Denmark". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan). 1 January 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2021. The number of Afghan immigrants living in Denmark per January 1st 2017 is 13240. There are also 4778 persons who are descendants of Afghan immigrants.
^ "Rohdatenauszählung ausländische Bevölkerung". 31 January 2023.
^ "Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland".
^ "Foreigners in Finland". Statistics Finland. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^ Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (2020). Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2019 [Foreign Citizens. Resident population and demographic balance as in 31 Dec 2019] (Report) (in Italian). Rome: Istat. Retrieved 15 August 2021. Italia – Asia Centro-Meridionale
Afghanistan [...] Totale: 11121 [Italy – Center-Southern Asia
Afghanistan [...] Total: 11,121]
^ "Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre".
^ Afghanistan's Ghani Visits Uzbekistan on Mission to Plug Into Central Asia, Eurasianet, 5 December 2017
^ Arbabzadah, Nushin (28 February 2012). "The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
^ "Afghanistan Situation". UNHCR. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
^ Snoj, Jure (18 December 2013). "Population of Qatar by nationality". bq magazine. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017.
^ "Statistics on foreign residents in Japan (formerly registered alien statistics) – statistics table", Immigration Services of Japan (in Japanese)
^ "2013 Census ethnic group profiles". archive.stats.govt.nz.
^ "Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed". Turkey: TRT World. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
^ ""Салт-дәстүрін аялай білген халық" – ақпараттық-танымдық сайт – Еl.kz". 7 November 2020.
^ ""Босқындарды қабылдауға үзілді-кесілді қарсымын" – Қазақстандағы ауған диаспорасының басшысы". 23 September 2021.
^ "Romania: Refugee and migrant figures for 2020". 30 March 201. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^ "No Brasil, classe média afegã acaba em aeroporto e abrigos para fugir do Talibã". CNN Brasil. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ IFRC document
^ "Up to 500 relatives of Afghans in State to be offered temporary residency". The Irish Times.
^ "Los afganos latinoamericanos". www.trt.net.tr. TRT Español.
^ "Um ano depois, um quarto dos refugiados afegãos saiu de Portugal".
^ "Portugal: New agency for migration and asylum".
^ "Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ Garner, Bryan (2009). Garner's Modern American Usage (third ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-19-538275-4.
^ Siegal, Allan M.; Connolly, William (2015). The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage (fifth ed.). New York: Crown Publishing Group. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-336-02484-7.
^ "The Constitution of Afghanistan". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
^ "Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2012. Dari and Pashto are the official languages of the state. Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are—in addition to Pashto—the second official language in areas where the majority speaks them.
^ "History of Afghanistan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
^ "Afghan and Afghanistan". Abdul Hai Habibi. alamahabibi.com. 1969. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
^ Noelle-Karimi, Christine; Conrad J. Schetter; Reinhard Schlagintweit (2002). Afghanistan -a country without a state?. University of Michigan, United States: IKO. p. 18. ISBN 3-88939-628-3. Retrieved 24 September 2010. The earliest mention of the name 'Afghan' (Abgan) is to be found in a Sasanid inscription from the 3rd century, and it appears in India in the form of 'Avagana'...
^ Balogh, Dániel (12 March 2020). Hunnic Peoples in Central and South Asia: Sources for their Origin and History. Barkhuis. p. 144. ISBN 978-94-93194-01-4. [ To Ormuzd Bunukan, ... greetings and homage from ... ), Pithe ( sot ] ang ( ? ) of Parpaz ( under ) [ the glorious ) yabghu of [ Heph ] thal, the chief ... of the Afghans
^ Sims-Williams, Nicholas (2000). Bactrian documents from northern Afghanistan. Oxford: The Nour Foundation in association with Azimuth Editions and Oxford University Press. ISBN 1-874780-92-7.
^ "Definition of AFGHAN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^ Fikrat & Umar 2008.
^ "The name Afghan has evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian... " (Megasthenes and Arrian, p 180. See also: Alexander's Invasion of India, p 38; J.W. McCrindle).
^ Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol I, fn 6; also Vol II, p 129, et al.
^ Etude Sur la Geog Grecque & c, pp 39–47, M. V. de Saint Martin.
^ The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1891, p 83, Élisée Reclus – Geography.
^ "Even the name Afghan is Aryan being derived from Asvakayana, an important clan of the Asvakas or horsemen who must have derived this title from their handling of celebrated breeds of horses" (See: Imprints of Indian Thought and Culture abroad, p 124, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan).
^ cf: "Their name (Afghan) means "cavalier" being derived from the Sanskrit, Asva, or Asvaka, a horse, and shows that their country must have been noted in ancient times, as it is at the present day, for its superior breed of horses. Asvaka was an important tribe settled north to Kabul river, which offered a gallant resistance but ineffectual resistance to the arms of Alexander "(Ref: Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1999, p 275, Royal Scottish Geographical Society).
^ "Afghans are Assakani of the Greeks; this word being the Sanskrit Ashvaka meaning 'horsemen' " (Ref: Sva, 1915, p 113, Christopher Molesworth Birdwood).
^ Cf: "The name represents Sanskrit Asvaka in the sense of a cavalier, and this reappears scarcely modified in the Assakani or Assakeni of the historians of the expedition of Alexander" (Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological..by Henry Yule, AD Burnell).
^ "Article 1 of the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan". Government of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
^ "Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2013. National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess the citizenship of Afghanistan. The nation of Afghanistan shall be comprised of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui and other tribes. The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. The citizenship and asylum related matters shall be regulated by law.
^ "Who is an Afghan? Row over ID cards fuels ethnic tension". Reuters. 8 February 2018 – via www.reuters.com.
^ Moslih, Hashmatallah. "Q&A: Afghanistan's Tajiks plea for federalism". www.aljazeera.com.
^ "Identity Politics in Afghanistan: Nation-State or State-Nation?". 25 May 2018.
^ Valentini, Nicole (6 July 2021). "Nation, identity and the future of Afghanistan".
^ "Miranshah PTM Jalsa Lar Ao bar Nary لر او بر یو افغان". 15 November 2020 – via www.youtube.com.
^ "Ask Johnson: Afghans, Afghanis, Afghanistanis". The Economist. 21 September 2011.
^ Kieffer, Ch. M. "Afghan". Encyclopædia Iranica. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "Afḡān" is the term by which the Persian-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Paṧtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Paṧtūn. The equation Afghans = Paṧtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Paṧtūn tribal confederation is by far the most important in the country, numerically and politically.
^ "ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll – Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (PDF). ABC News. Kabul, Afghanistan. pp. 38–40. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
^ Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^ "Afghanistani Definitions | What does afghanistani mean? | Best 2 Definitions of Afghanistani". www.yourdictionary.com. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^ Bulut, Meryem; Şahin, Kadriye (2 October 2019). Anthropological Perspectives on Transnational Encounters in Turkey: War, Migration and Experiences of Coexistence. Transnational Press London. ISBN 978-1-912997-26-8.
^ Bezhan, Faridullah (2006). Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms. Monash Asia Institute. ISBN 978-1-876924-44-7.
^ Rubin, Barnett R. (9 May 2013). Afghanistan in the Post-Cold War Era. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-979112-5.
^ Boon, Kristen; Lovelace, Douglas; Huq, Aziz Z. (2011). Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Conflict in Afghanistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-975825-8.
^ Bezhan, Faridullah (2006). Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms [this book with title Afghanistani was published in 2006]. Monash Asia Institute. ISBN 978-1-876924-44-7.
^ "Afghanistani mother responds to pregnant Kiwi journalist's plea". 1 News. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
^ "راه‌حل‌های راهبردی برای پناهندگان افغانستانی [UNHCR Iran uses Afghanistani]". آژانس پناهندگان سازمان ملل در ایران (in Persian). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
^ "Chatterbox: More on 'Afghani'". Slate. 4 October 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^ "Afghan vs. Afghani, Part 3". Slate. 2 December 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
^ George Newenham Wright (1836). A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer, Volume 3.
^ "True Northerner 18 October 1878 — Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection". digmichnews.cmich.edu. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ "Beauty is the quiet of the self forgotten". 30 October 2017.
^ Anatol Lieven (2016). "The Arbiters of Afghanistan". The National Interest (145). Center for the National Interest: 28–36. JSTOR 26557334.
^ "Afghan Culture – Religion". Cultural Atlas. January 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2023.

Sources

Fikrat, Mohammad Asef; Umar, Suheyl (2008). "Afghan". In Madelung, Wilferd; Daftary, Farhad (eds.). Encyclopaedia Islamica Online. Brill Online. ISSN 1875-9831.

External links

Media related to People of Afghanistan at Wikimedia Commons
Afghan News

[1] "22". The population of Afghanistan in 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

[2] "Iran's Interior Minister – The presence of more than 5 million Afghan immigrants in Iran". www.isna.ir. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.

[3] "Situations". data2.unhcr.org. Retrieved 5 June 2023.

[4] "Statistischer Bericht – Mikrozensus – Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund – Erstergebnisse 2022". 20 April 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.

[5] "Welcome allied-media.com - BlueHost.com". Allied-media.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.

[Shahbandari-6] Shahbandari, Shafaat (30 November 2012). "Afghans take hope from UAE's achievements". Gulf News. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

[7] "Moscow's 'Little Kabul'". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. 25 December 2017.

[The_Afghan_refugee_crisis_brewing_on_Turkey's_eastern_border-8] "The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border". The New Humanitarian. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

[9] "Canada Census Profile 2021". Census Profile, 2021 Census. Statistics Canada Statistique Canada. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

[10] "Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates – Canada – Admissions of Permanent Residents by Country of Citizenship". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[11] "Table 1.3: Overseas-born population in the United Kingdom, excluding some residents in communal establishments, by sex, by country of birth, January 2019 to December 2019". Office for National Statistics. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95% confidence intervals.

[12] "Population statistics".

[13] "People in Australia who were born in Afghanistan". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

[14] "CBS Statline".

[15] "Afghanistan. Comment sont répartis les réfugiés afghans dans le monde ?". 2 September 2021.

[auto1-16] Calcea, Nicu (19 August 2021). "How the US and the UK accept far fewer Afghan refugees than other countries". New Statesman. Retrieved 5 June 2023.

[Afghans_in_Ukraine-17] Свобода, Радіо (8 October 2001). "Афганська громада України". Радіо Свобода. Retrieved 29 July 2021.

[18] "Denmark". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan). 1 January 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2021. The number of Afghan immigrants living in Denmark per January 1st 2017 is 13240. There are also 4778 persons who are descendants of Afghan immigrants.

[19] "Rohdatenauszählung ausländische Bevölkerung". 31 January 2023.

[20] "Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland".

[Finland-21] "Foreigners in Finland". Statistics Finland. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

[22] Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (2020). Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2019 [Foreign Citizens. Resident population and demographic balance as in 31 Dec 2019] (Report) (in Italian). Rome: Istat. Retrieved 15 August 2021. Italia – Asia Centro-Meridionale
Afghanistan [...] Totale: 11121 [Italy – Center-Southern Asia
Afghanistan [...] Total: 11,121]

[23] "Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre".

[Eurasianet-24] Afghanistan's Ghani Visits Uzbekistan on Mission to Plug Into Central Asia, Eurasianet, 5 December 2017

[The_story_of_the_Afghan_Jews_is_one_of_remarkable_tolerance-25] Arbabzadah, Nushin (28 February 2012). "The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2017.

[Afghanistan_Situation-26] "Afghanistan Situation". UNHCR. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.

[Population_of_Qatar_by_nationality-27] Snoj, Jure (18 December 2013). "Population of Qatar by nationality". bq magazine. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017.

[Immigration_Services_of_Japan-28] "Statistics on foreign residents in Japan (formerly registered alien statistics) – statistics table", Immigration Services of Japan (in Japanese)

[2013_Census_ethnic_group_profiles:_Afghani-29] "2013 Census ethnic group profiles". archive.stats.govt.nz.

[Afghan_refugees_in_Malaysia_find_hope_in_Theatre_of_the_Oppressed-30] "Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed". Turkey: TRT World. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2021.

[elkz-31] ""Салт-дәстүрін аялай білген халық" – ақпараттық-танымдық сайт – Еl.kz". 7 November 2020.

[snkz-32] ""Босқындарды қабылдауға үзілді-кесілді қарсымын" – Қазақстандағы ауған диаспорасының басшысы". 23 September 2021.

[33] "Romania: Refugee and migrant figures for 2020". 30 March 201. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

[34] "No Brasil, classe média afegã acaba em aeroporto e abrigos para fugir do Talibã". CNN Brasil. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

[35] IFRC document

[36] "Up to 500 relatives of Afghans in State to be offered temporary residency". The Irish Times.

[37] "Los afganos latinoamericanos". www.trt.net.tr. TRT Español.

[38] "Um ano depois, um quarto dos refugiados afegãos saiu de Portugal".

[39] "Portugal: New agency for migration and asylum".

[40] "Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

[41] Garner, Bryan (2009). Garner's Modern American Usage (third ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-19-538275-4.

[42] Siegal, Allan M.; Connolly, William (2015). The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage (fifth ed.). New York: Crown Publishing Group. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-336-02484-7.

[43] "The Constitution of Afghanistan". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

[AO-44] "Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2012. Dari and Pashto are the official languages of the state. Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are—in addition to Pashto—the second official language in areas where the majority speaks them.

[Britannica-Abgan-45] "History of Afghanistan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

[Habibi-46] "Afghan and Afghanistan". Abdul Hai Habibi. alamahabibi.com. 1969. Retrieved 24 October 2010.

[Abgan-47] Noelle-Karimi, Christine; Conrad J. Schetter; Reinhard Schlagintweit (2002). Afghanistan -a country without a state?. University of Michigan, United States: IKO. p. 18. ISBN 3-88939-628-3. Retrieved 24 September 2010. The earliest mention of the name 'Afghan' (Abgan) is to be found in a Sasanid inscription from the 3rd century, and it appears in India in the form of 'Avagana'...

[Barkhuis-48] Balogh, Dániel (12 March 2020). Hunnic Peoples in Central and South Asia: Sources for their Origin and History. Barkhuis. p. 144. ISBN 978-94-93194-01-4. [ To Ormuzd Bunukan, ... greetings and homage from ... ), Pithe ( sot ] ang ( ? ) of Parpaz ( under ) [ the glorious ) yabghu of [ Heph ] thal, the chief ... of the Afghans

[Bactrian_documents_from_northern_Af-49] Sims-Williams, Nicholas (2000). Bactrian documents from northern Afghanistan. Oxford: The Nour Foundation in association with Azimuth Editions and Oxford University Press. ISBN 1-874780-92-7.

[50] "Definition of AFGHAN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.

[FOOTNOTEFikratUmar2008-51] Fikrat & Umar 2008.

[52] "The name Afghan has evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian... " (Megasthenes and Arrian, p 180. See also: Alexander's Invasion of India, p 38; J.W. McCrindle).

[53] Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol I, fn 6; also Vol II, p 129, et al.

[54] Etude Sur la Geog Grecque & c, pp 39–47, M. V. de Saint Martin.

[55] The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1891, p 83, Élisée Reclus – Geography.

[56] "Even the name Afghan is Aryan being derived from Asvakayana, an important clan of the Asvakas or horsemen who must have derived this title from their handling of celebrated breeds of horses" (See: Imprints of Indian Thought and Culture abroad, p 124, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan).

[57] : "Their name (Afghan) means "cavalier" being derived from the Sanskrit, Asva, or Asvaka, a horse, and shows that their country must have been noted in ancient times, as it is at the present day, for its superior breed of horses. Asvaka was an important tribe settled north to Kabul river, which offered a gallant resistance but ineffectual resistance to the arms of Alexander "(Ref: Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1999, p 275, Royal Scottish Geographical Society).

[58] "Afghans are Assakani of the Greeks; this word being the Sanskrit Ashvaka meaning 'horsemen' " (Ref: Sva, 1915, p 113, Christopher Molesworth Birdwood).

[59] Cf: "The name represents Sanskrit Asvaka in the sense of a cavalier, and this reappears scarcely modified in the Assakani or Assakeni of the historians of the expedition of Alexander" (Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological..by Henry Yule, AD Burnell).

[60] "Article 1 of the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan". Government of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2012.

[61] "Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2013. National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess the citizenship of Afghanistan. The nation of Afghanistan shall be comprised of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui and other tribes. The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. The citizenship and asylum related matters shall be regulated by law.

[62] "Who is an Afghan? Row over ID cards fuels ethnic tension". Reuters. 8 February 2018 – via www.reuters.com.

[63] Moslih, Hashmatallah. "Q&A: Afghanistan's Tajiks plea for federalism". www.aljazeera.com.

[64] "Identity Politics in Afghanistan: Nation-State or State-Nation?". 25 May 2018.

[65] Valentini, Nicole (6 July 2021). "Nation, identity and the future of Afghanistan".

[66] "Miranshah PTM Jalsa Lar Ao bar Nary لر او بر یو افغان". 15 November 2020 – via www.youtube.com.

[auto-67] "Ask Johnson: Afghans, Afghanis, Afghanistanis". The Economist. 21 September 2011.

[Kieffer-68] Kieffer, Ch. M. "Afghan". Encyclopædia Iranica. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "Afḡān" is the term by which the Persian-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Paṧtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Paṧtūn. The equation Afghans = Paṧtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Paṧtūn tribal confederation is by far the most important in the country, numerically and politically.

[ABCBBCARD-69] "ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll – Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (PDF). ABC News. Kabul, Afghanistan. pp. 38–40. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.

[70] Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

[71] "Afghanistani Definitions | What does afghanistani mean? | Best 2 Definitions of Afghanistani". www.yourdictionary.com. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

[72] Bulut, Meryem; Şahin, Kadriye (2 October 2019). Anthropological Perspectives on Transnational Encounters in Turkey: War, Migration and Experiences of Coexistence. Transnational Press London. ISBN 978-1-912997-26-8.

[73] Bezhan, Faridullah (2006). Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms. Monash Asia Institute. ISBN 978-1-876924-44-7.

[74] Rubin, Barnett R. (9 May 2013). Afghanistan in the Post-Cold War Era. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-979112-5.

[75] Boon, Kristen; Lovelace, Douglas; Huq, Aziz Z. (2011). Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Conflict in Afghanistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-975825-8.

[76] Bezhan, Faridullah (2006). Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms [this book with title Afghanistani was published in 2006]. Monash Asia Institute. ISBN 978-1-876924-44-7.

[77] "Afghanistani mother responds to pregnant Kiwi journalist's plea". 1 News. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

[78] "راه‌حل‌های راهبردی برای پناهندگان افغانستانی [UNHCR Iran uses Afghanistani]". آژانس پناهندگان سازمان ملل در ایران (in Persian). Retrieved 26 May 2022.

[79] "Chatterbox: More on 'Afghani'". Slate. 4 October 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2013.

[80] "Afghan vs. Afghani, Part 3". Slate. 2 December 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2021.

[81] George Newenham Wright (1836). A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer, Volume 3.

[82] "True Northerner 18 October 1878 — Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection". digmichnews.cmich.edu. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

[83] "Beauty is the quiet of the self forgotten". 30 October 2017.

[84] Anatol Lieven (2016). "The Arbiters of Afghanistan". The National Interest (145). Center for the National Interest: 28–36. JSTOR 26557334.

[85] "Afghan Culture – Religion". Cultural Atlas. January 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2023.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|People or citizens of Afghanistan}}
-{{About||the historical ethnic group|Afghan (ethnonym)|other uses of the term|Afghan (disambiguation)}}
+{{About||the historical Pashtun ethnonym|Afghan (ethnonym)|other uses of the term|Afghan (disambiguation)}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
 {{Infobox ethnic group
-| group            = Afghans<br />{{Nastaliq|افغان}}
+| group            = Afghans
+| native_name      = {{lang|prs|افغان‌ها|rtl=yes}}&nbsp;([[Dari]])<br />{{lang|ps|افغانان|rtl=yes}}&nbsp;([[Pashto]])
 | image            = Map of the Afghan Diaspora in the World.svg
-| caption          = Map of the [[Afghan diaspora]] in the world (includes Afghans of any ethnicity, ancestry or citizenship).
+| caption          = Map of the [[Afghan diaspora]]:
 {{Legend|#000000|Afghanistan}}
 {{Legend|#440000|+ 1,000,000}}
@@ Line 13: / Line 14: @@
 | population       = 53<ref>{{cite web |title=22 |url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/afghanistan-population/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=The population of Afghanistan in 2024}}</ref> million{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
 | total_source     = estimate
-| popplace         = ''[[Afghan diaspora|Diaspora]]'': <br/> 9,085,784+{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
+| popplace         = Diaspora:<br/> 9,085,784+{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
-| region1          = {{flagcountry|Iran}}
+| region1          = {{flagu|Iran}}
 | pop1             = {{circa|5 million}} (2023)
-| ref1             = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran's Interior Minister - The presence of more than 5 million Afghan immigrants in Iran |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1402042113915/%D9%88%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.isna.ir|date=13 July 2023 }}</ref>
+| ref1             = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran's Interior Minister – The presence of more than 5 million Afghan immigrants in Iran |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1402042113915/%D9%88%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.isna.ir|date=13 July 2023 }}</ref>
-| region2          = {{flagcountry|Pakistan}}
+| region2          = {{flagu|Pakistan}}
 | pop2             = 1,285,754 (2022)
 | ref2             = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Situations |url=https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=data2.unhcr.org}}</ref>
-| region3          = {{flagcountry|Germany}}
+| region3          = {{flagu|Germany}}
 | pop3             = 425,000 (2022)
-| ref3             = <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Publikationen/Downloads-Migration/statistischer-bericht-migrationshintergrund-erst-2010220227005.htmll|title = Statistischer Bericht - Mikrozensus - Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund - Erstergebnisse 2022|date = 20 April 2023|access-date = 17 July 2023}}</ref>
+| ref3             = <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Publikationen/Downloads-Migration/statistischer-bericht-migrationshintergrund-erst-2010220227005.htmll|title = Statistischer Bericht – Mikrozensus – Bevölkerung nach Migrationshintergrund – Erstergebnisse 2022|date = 20 April 2023|access-date = 17 July 2023}}</ref>
-| region4          = {{flagcountry|United States}}
+| region4          = {{flagu|United States}}
 | pop4             = 300,000 (2022)
 | ref4             = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allied-media.com/ |title=Welcome allied-media.com - BlueHost.com |publisher=Allied-media.com |date= |accessdate=2022-12-24}}</ref>
-| region5          = {{flagcountry|UAE}}
+| region5          = {{flagu|UAE}}
 | pop5             = 300,000 (2023)
 | ref5             = <ref name="Shahbandari">{{cite news |last=Shahbandari |first=Shafaat |date=November 30, 2012 |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/society/afghans-take-hope-from-uae-s-achievements-1.1112640 |title=Afghans take hope from UAE's achievements |publisher=Gulf News |access-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>
-| region6          = {{flagcountry|Russia}}
+| region6          = {{flagu|Russia}}
 | pop6             = 150,000 (2017)
 | ref6             = <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-afghan-community/28926962.html |agency=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |title=Moscow's 'Little Kabul' |date=25 December 2017}}</ref>
-| region7          = {{flagcountry|Turkey}}
+| region7          = {{flagu|Turkey}}
 | pop7             = 129,323 (2021)
 | ref7             = <ref name="The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border">{{cite news |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/8/4/the-afghan-refugee-crisis-brewing-on-turkeys-eastern-border |title=The Afghan refugee crisis brewing on Turkey's eastern border |publisher=The New Humanitarian |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=2021-08-13}}</ref>
-| region8          = {{flagcountry|Canada}}
+| region8          = {{flagu|Canada}}
 | pop8             = 125,305 (2022)
 | ref8             = <ref>{{cite web|title=Canada Census Profile 2021|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A000011124&HEADERlist=31&SearchText=Canada|website=Census Profile, 2021 Census|date = 7 May 2021|publisher=Statistics Canada Statistique Canada|access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates – Canada – Admissions of Permanent Residents by Country of Citizenship|url=https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/f7e5498e-0ad8-4417-85c9-9b8aff9b9eda/resource/d1c1f4f3-2d7f-4e02-9a79-7af98209c2f3|website=Statistics Canada|access-date=3 January 2022}}</ref>
-| region9          = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
+| region9          = {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
 | pop9             = 79,000 (2019)
 | ref9             = <ref>{{ONSCoB2019|accessdate=17 October 2020}}</ref>
-| region10         = {{flagcountry|Sweden}}
+| region10         = {{flagu|Sweden}}
 | pop10            = 67,738 (2023)
 | ref10            = <ref>{{cite web|title = Population statistics |url=https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/population/population-composition/population-statistics/}}</ref>
-| region11         = {{flagcountry|Australia}}
+| region11         = {{flagu|Australia}}
 | pop11            = 59,797 (2021)
 | ref11            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/7201_AUS |title = People in Australia who were born in Afghanistan |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>
-| region12         = {{flagcountry|The Netherlands}}
+| region12         = {{flagu|The Netherlands}}
 | pop12            = 51,830 (2021)
 | ref12            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37325/table|title = CBS Statline}}</ref>
-| region13         = {{flagcountry|France}}
+| region13         = {{flagu|France}}
 | pop13            = 41,174 (2021)
 | ref13            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/monde/afghanistan/afghanistan-comment-son-repartis-les-refugies-afghans-sur-la-carte-du-monde-6dc4d584-0af8-11ec-9466-21125f8a0027#:~:text=Selon%20l'Office%20fran%C3%A7ais%20de,Syriens%20et%20les%20Sri%2DLankais. |title=Afghanistan. Comment sont répartis les réfugiés afghans dans le monde ? |date=2 September 2021}}</ref>
-| region14         = {{flagcountry|Greece}}
+| region14         = {{flagu|Greece}}
 | pop14            = 21,456 (2021)
 | ref14            = <ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Calcea |first=Nicu |date=2021-08-19 |title=How the US and the UK accept far fewer Afghan refugees than other countries |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2021/08/how-us-and-uk-accept-far-fewer-afghan-refugees-other-countries |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>
-| region15         = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
+| region15         = {{flagu|Ukraine}}
 | pop15            = 20,000 (2001)
 | ref15            = <ref name="Afghans in Ukraine">{{cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/881540.html|title=Афганська громада України|newspaper=Радіо Свобода |date=October 8, 2001|access-date=2021-07-29 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref>
-| region16         = {{flagcountry|Denmark}}
+| region16         = {{flagu|Denmark}}
 | pop16            = 18,018 (2017)
 | ref16            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afghanistanembassy.no/denmark/ |title=Denmark |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan) |date=January 1, 2017 |access-date=2021-07-30 |quote=The number of Afghan immigrants living in Denmark per January 1st 2017 is 13240. There are also 4778 persons who are descendants of Afghan immigrants.}}</ref>
-| region17         = {{flagcountry|India}}
+| region17         = {{flagu|India}}
 | pop17            = 15,806 (2021)
 | ref17            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Tabellen/rohdaten-auslaendische-bevoelkerung-zeitreihe.html |title= Rohdatenauszählung ausländische Bevölkerung |date=31 January 2023}}</ref>
-| region18         = {{flagcountry|Austria}}
+| region18         = {{flagu|Austria}}
 | pop18            = 44,918 (2023)
 | ref18            = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/menschen_und_gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstruktur/bevoelkerung_nach_staatsangehoerigkeit_geburtsland/index.html |title=Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland }}</ref>
-| region19         = {{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
+| region19         = {{flagu|Switzerland}}
 | pop19            = 14,523 (2021)
 | ref19            = <ref name="auto1"/>
-| region20         = {{flagcountry|Finland}}
+| region20         = {{flagu|Finland}}
 | pop20            = 12,044 (2021)
 | ref20            = <ref name=Finland>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#foreigners |title=Foreigners in Finland |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 9, 2021 |access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>
-| region21         = {{flagcountry|Italy}}
+| region21         = {{flagu|Italy}}
-| pop21            = 11,121-12,096 (2021)
+| pop21            = 11,121–12,096 (2021)
-| ref21            = <ref>{{cite report |author=Istituto Nazionale di Statistica |author-link=Italian National Institute of Statistics |date=2020 |title=Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2019 |url=http://demo.istat.it/str2019/index.html |publisher=[[Istat]] |location=Rome |access-date=15 August 2021 |quote=Italia - Asia Centro-Meridionale<br />Afghanistan [...] Totale: 11121|lang=it|trans-title=Foreign Citizens. Resident population and demographic balance as in 31 Dec 2019|trans-quote=Italy - Center-Southern Asia<br />Afghanistan [...] Total: 11,121}}</ref>
+| ref21            = <ref>{{cite report |author=Istituto Nazionale di Statistica |author-link=Italian National Institute of Statistics |date=2020 |title=Cittadini Stranieri. Popolazione residente e bilancio demografico al 31 dicembre 2019 |url=http://demo.istat.it/str2019/index.html |publisher=[[Istat]] |location=Rome |access-date=15 August 2021 |quote=Italia – Asia Centro-Meridionale<br />Afghanistan [...] Totale: 11121|lang=it|trans-title=Foreign Citizens. Resident population and demographic balance as in 31 Dec 2019|trans-quote=Italy – Center-Southern Asia<br />Afghanistan [...] Total: 11,121}}</ref>
-| region22         = {{flagcountry|Norway}}
+| region22         = {{flagu|Norway}}
 | pop22            = 24,823 (2022)
 | ref22            = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/innvandrere/statistikk/innvandrere-og-norskfodte-med-innvandrerforeldre | title=Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre }}</ref>
-| region23         = {{flagcountry|Uzbekistan}}
+| region23         = {{flagu|Uzbekistan}}
 | pop23            = 10,000 (2022)
 | ref23            = <ref name="Eurasianet">{{citation|url=https://eurasianet.org/afghanistans-ghani-visits-uzbekistan-on-mission-to-plug-into-central-asia|title=Afghanistan's Ghani Visits Uzbekistan on Mission to Plug Into Central Asia|publisher=Eurasianet|date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>
-| region24         = {{flagcountry|Israel}}
+| region24         = {{flagu|Israel}}
 | pop24            = 10,000 (2012)
 | ref24            = <ref name="The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance">{{cite news|last1=Arbabzadah|first1=Nushin|title=The story of the Afghan Jews is one of remarkable tolerance|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/feb/28/afghan-jews-tolerance|access-date=2017-04-12|work=The Guardian|date=28 February 2012}}</ref>
-| region25         = {{flagcountry|Indonesia}}
+| region25         = {{flagu|Indonesia}}
 | pop25            = 7,629 (2021)
 | ref25            = {{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
-| region26         = {{flagcountry|Tajikistan}}
+| region26         = {{flagu|Tajikistan}}
 | pop26            = 6,775 (2021)
 | ref26            = <ref name="Afghanistan Situation">{{cite news |url=https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/afghanistan#_ga=2.50735596.454016482.1641847996-2034345174.1627464944 |title=Afghanistan Situation |publisher=UNHCR |date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=2022-01-10}}</ref>
-| region27         = {{flagcountry|Qatar}}
+| region27         = {{flagu|Qatar}}
 | pop27            = 4,000 (2012)
 | ref27            = <ref name="Population of Qatar by nationality">{{cite web |url=https://www.bq-magazine.com/economy/2013/12/population-qatar-nationality |title=Population of Qatar by nationality |first=Jure |last=Snoj |work=bq magazine |date=18 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212101043/https://www.bq-magazine.com/economy/2013/12/population-qatar-nationality |archive-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
-| region28         = {{flagcountry|Japan}}
+| region28         = {{flagu|Japan}}
 | pop28            = 3,509 (2020)
-| ref28            = <ref name="Immigration Services of Japan">{{citation|url=https://www.isa.go.jp/en/policies/statistics/toukei_ichiran_touroku.html |title=Statistics on foreign residents in Japan (formerly registered alien statistics) - statistics table |work=Immigration Services of Japan |language=Japanese}}</ref>
+| ref28            = <ref name="Immigration Services of Japan">{{citation|url=https://www.isa.go.jp/en/policies/statistics/toukei_ichiran_touroku.html |title=Statistics on foreign residents in Japan (formerly registered alien statistics) – statistics table |work=Immigration Services of Japan |language=Japanese}}</ref>
-| region29         = {{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
+| region29         = {{flagu|New Zealand}}
 | pop29            = 3,414 (2013)
 | ref29            = <ref name="2013 Census ethnic group profiles: Afghani">{{cite web|url=https://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx|title=2013 Census ethnic group profiles|website=archive.stats.govt.nz}}</ref>
-| region30         = {{flagcountry|Malaysia}}
+| region30         = {{flagu|Malaysia}}
 | pop30            = 2,661 (2021)
 | ref30            = <ref name="Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed">{{cite news|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/afghan-refugees-in-malaysia-find-hope-in-theatre-of-the-oppressed-10068|title=Afghan refugees in Malaysia find hope in Theatre of the Oppressed |publisher=TRT World |date=September 4, 2017 |access-date=2021-07-29 |location=Turkey}}</ref>
-| region31         = {{flagcountry|Kazakhstan}}
+| region31         = {{flagu|Kazakhstan}}
 | pop31            = 2,500+ (2021)
-| ref31            = <ref name="elkz">{{cite web|url=https://el.kz/news/kogam/salt-d-st-rin_ayalay_bilgen_khaly-/|title="Салт-дәстүрін аялай білген халық" - ақпараттық-танымдық сайт - Еl.kz|date=7 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="snkz">{{cite web|url=https://sn.kz/sn-akparat-agyny/84229-boskyndardy-kabyldauga-uzildi-kesildi-karsymyn-kazakstandagy-augan-diasporasynyn-basshysy|title="Босқындарды қабылдауға үзілді-кесілді қарсымын" - Қазақстандағы ауған диаспорасының басшысы|date=23 September 2021 }}</ref>
+| ref31            = <ref name="elkz">{{cite web|url=https://el.kz/news/kogam/salt-d-st-rin_ayalay_bilgen_khaly-/|title="Салт-дәстүрін аялай білген халық" – ақпараттық-танымдық сайт – Еl.kz|date=7 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="snkz">{{cite web|url=https://sn.kz/sn-akparat-agyny/84229-boskyndardy-kabyldauga-uzildi-kesildi-karsymyn-kazakstandagy-augan-diasporasynyn-basshysy|title="Босқындарды қабылдауға үзілді-кесілді қарсымын" – Қазақстандағы ауған диаспорасының басшысы|date=23 September 2021 }}</ref>
-| region32         = {{flagcountry|Romania}}
+| region32         = {{flagu|Romania}}
 | pop32            = 2,384 (2020)
 | ref32            = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/romania-refugee-and-migrant-figures-for-2020 |title=Romania: Refugee and migrant figures for 2020 |publisher= |date=March 30, 201 |access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>
-| region33         = {{flagcountry|Brazil}}
+| region33         = {{flagu|Brazil}}
-| pop33            = 3,000 - 4,000 (2022)
+| pop33            = 3,000 – 4,000 (2022)
 | ref33            = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/no-brasil-classe-media-afega-acaba-em-aeroporto-e-abrigos-para-fugir-do-taliba/|title=No Brasil, classe média afegã acaba em aeroporto e abrigos para fugir do Talibã|website=CNN Brasil|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref>
-| region34         = {{flagcountry|Kyrgyzstan}}
+| region34         = {{flagu|Kyrgyzstan}}
 | pop34            = 2,000 (2002)
 | ref34            = <ref>[https://go-api.ifrc.org/publicfile/download?path=/docs/appeals/01/&name=320123.pdf IFRC document]</ref>
-| languages        = [[Persian language|Persian]] ([[Dari]] and [[Iranian Persian]]), [[Pashto]], other [[languages of Afghanistan]]
+| languages        = [[Pashto]], [[Dari]] and other [[languages of Afghanistan]]
-| religions        = '''Predominantly''': [[Islam]]<br />{{nowrap|([[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] majority and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] minority)}}<br /> '''Minority''':    [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Christianity]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Baháʼí Faith]]
+| religions        = '''Predominantly''': [[Islam]]<br />{{nowrap|([[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] majority and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] minority)}}<br /> '''Minority''':    [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], Christianity, [[Zoroastrianism]], Judaism, [[Baháʼí Faith]]
 | related_groups   = [[Tajiks]], [[Pashtuns]], [[Hazaras]], [[Uzbeks]]
 | poptime          =
-| region35         = {{flagcountry|Ireland}}
+| region35         = {{flagu|Ireland}}
 | pop35            = 1,200 (2019)
 | ref35            = <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/up-to-500-relatives-of-afghans-in-state-to-be-offered-temporary-residency-1.4685218 | title=Up to 500 relatives of Afghans in State to be offered temporary residency | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref>
-| region36         = {{flagcountry|Bhutan}}
+| region36         = {{flagu|Bhutan}}
 | pop36            = 300–2,500 (2018)
 | ref36            = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trt.net.tr/espanol/programas/2018/07/10/los-afganos-latinoamericanos-1009497|title=Los afganos latinoamericanos|publisher=TRT Español|website=www.trt.net.tr}}</ref>
-| region37         = {{flagcountry|Portugal}}
+| region37         = {{flagu|Portugal}}
 | pop37            = 883
 | ref37            = <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.publico.pt/2022/08/14/sociedade/reportagem/ano-chegado-quarto-refugiados-afegaos-saiu-portugal-2017051 | title=Um ano depois, um quarto dos refugiados afegãos saiu de Portugal
@@ Line 132: / Line 133: @@
 }}
-'''Afghans''' ({{lang-prs|افغان‌ها}}) also '''Afghanistanis''' ({{lang|prs|افغانستانی‌ها}}), ({{lang-ps|افغانان}}) or '''Afghan people''' are nationals or citizens of [[Afghanistan]], or people with ancestry from there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Afghan|title=Dictionary.com &#124; Meanings & Definitions of English Words|website=Dictionary.com|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author =Garner, Bryan |year=2009 |title=Garner's Modern American Usage |edition=third|location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FwmQpyibKkAC&pg=PA27 27] |isbn=978-0-19-538275-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author1=Siegal, Allan M.  |author2=Connolly, William |year=2015 |title=The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage |edition=fifth |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=o2E5BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT18 18] |isbn=978-1-336-02484-7}}</ref> Afghanistan is made up of various ethnicities, of which [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], and [[Uzbeks]] are the largest. The three main languages spoken by Afghans are [[Dari Persian]], [[Pashto]], and [[Southern Uzbek language|Uzbek]], and many Afghans are [[bilingual]], speaking both Dari Persian and Pashto.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of Afghanistan|url=https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|access-date=2 September 2020|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829115048/https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AO">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan |url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028065437/http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html |archive-date=28 October 2013 |access-date=13 June 2012 |quote=Dari and Pashto are the official languages of the state. Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are—in addition to Pashto—the second official language in areas where the majority speaks them.}}</ref>
+'''Afghans''' ({{lang-prs|افغان‌ها}}; {{lang-ps|افغانان}}) are the citizens and nationals of [[Afghanistan]], as well as their descendants in the [[Afghan diaspora]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Afghan|title=Dictionary.com &#124; Meanings & Definitions of English Words|website=Dictionary.com|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author =Garner, Bryan |year=2009 |title=Garner's Modern American Usage |edition=third|location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FwmQpyibKkAC&pg=PA27 27] |isbn=978-0-19-538275-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author1=Siegal, Allan M.  |author2=Connolly, William |year=2015 |title=The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage |edition=fifth |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=o2E5BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT18 18] |isbn=978-1-336-02484-7}}</ref> The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], and [[Uzbeks]] are the largest. The three main languages spoken among the Afghan people are [[Dari]], [[Pashto]], and [[Southern Uzbek language|Uzbek]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of Afghanistan|url=https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|access-date=2 September 2020|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829115048/https://www.mfa.gov.af/constitution/chapter-one-state.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AO">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan |url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028065437/http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html |archive-date=28 October 2013 |access-date=13 June 2012 |quote=Dari and Pashto are the official languages of the state. Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are—in addition to Pashto—the second official language in areas where the majority speaks them.}}</ref> Historically, the term "Afghan" [[Afghan (ethnonym)|was a Pashtun ethnonym]], but later came to refer to all people in the country, regardless of their ethnicity.
-==Background==
+==Etymology==
+{{main|Afghan (ethnonym)}}
-{{main|Afghan (ethnonym)}}The earliest mention of the name ''Afghan'' (''Abgân'') is by [[Shapur I]] of the [[Sassanid Empire]] during the 3rd century CE,<ref name="Britannica-Abgan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7798/Afghanistan/129450/History?anchor=ref261360|title=History of Afghanistan|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|access-date=2010-11-22}}</ref><ref name="Habibi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Afghan_and_Afghanistan.htm |title=Afghan and Afghanistan |work=[[Abdul Hai Habibi]]|publisher=alamahabibi.com|year=1969|access-date=2010-10-24}}</ref><ref name="Abgan">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan -a country without a state?|last1=Noelle-Karimi|first1=Christine|author2=Conrad J. Schetter|author3=Reinhard Schlagintweit|year=2002|publisher=IKO|location=[[University of Michigan]], United States|isbn=3-88939-628-3|page=18|quote=''The earliest mention of the name 'Afghan' (Abgan) is to be found in a Sasanid inscription from the 3rd century, and it appears in India in the form of 'Avagana'...''|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo3tAAAAMAAJ|access-date=2010-09-24}}</ref> In the 4th century the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to the Pashtun people is mentioned in the [[Bactria]]n documents found in Northern Afghanistan.<ref name="Barkhuis">{{cite book |last1=Balogh |first1=Dániel |title=Hunnic Peoples in Central and South Asia: Sources for their Origin and History |date=12 March 2020 |publisher=Barkhuis |isbn=978-94-93194-01-4 |pages=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=frnVDwAAQBAJ&q=bunukan&pg=PA144 |language=en |quote=[ To Ormuzd Bunukan, ... greetings and homage from ... ), Pithe ( sot ] ang ( ? ) of Parpaz ( under ) [ the glorious ) yabghu of [ Heph ] thal, the chief ... of the Afghans}}</ref><ref name="Bactrian documents from northern Af">{{cite book |last1=Sims-Williams |first1=Nicholas |title=Bactrian documents from northern Afghanistan |date=2000 |publisher=The Nour Foundation in association with Azimuth Editions and Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=1-874780-92-7}}</ref> The word 'Afghan' is of [[Persian language|Persian]] origin to refer to the Pashtun people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of AFGHAN|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afghan|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words ''awajan/apajan'' in [[Avestan]] and ''ava-Han/apa-Han'' in [[Sanskrit]], which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the [[Sasanians]], and possibly the [[Parthian Empire]], the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect.{{sfn|Fikrat|Umar|2008}} In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e.the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana the name of the ''[[Aśvaka]]n'' or ''Assakan'', ancient inhabitants of the [[Hindu Kush]] region. Some have theorized that name of the ''Aśvakan'' or ''Assakan'' has been preserved in that of the modern [[Pashtun]], with the name Afghan being derived from [[Aśvaka|Asvakan]].<ref>''"The name Afghan has evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian... "'' (Megasthenes and Arrian, p 180. See also: Alexander's Invasion of India, p 38; J.W. McCrindle).</ref><ref>Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol I, fn 6; also Vol II, p 129, et al.</ref><ref>Etude Sur la Geog Grecque & c, pp 39-47, M. V. de Saint Martin.</ref><ref>The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1891, p 83, Élisée Reclus - Geography.</ref><ref>''"Even the name Afghan is Aryan being derived from Asvakayana, an important clan of the Asvakas or horsemen who must have derived this title from their handling of celebrated breeds of horses"'' (See: Imprints of Indian Thought and Culture abroad, p 124, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan).</ref><ref>cf: ''"Their name (Afghan) means "cavalier" being derived from the [[Sanskrit]], ''Asva'', or ''Asvaka'', a horse, and shows that their country must have been noted in ancient times, as it is at the present day, for its superior breed of horses. Asvaka was an important tribe settled north to Kabul river, which offered a gallant resistance but ineffectual resistance to the arms of Alexander "''(Ref: Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1999, p 275, Royal Scottish Geographical Society).</ref><ref>''"Afghans are Assakani of the [[Greeks]]; this word being the [[Sanskrit]] [[Ashvaka]] meaning 'horsemen' " ''  (Ref: Sva, 1915, p 113, Christopher Molesworth Birdwood).</ref><ref>Cf: ''"The name represents Sanskrit Asvaka in the sense of a ''cavalier'', and this reappears scarcely modified in the Assakani or Assakeni of the historians of the expedition of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]" '' (Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial [[Anglo-Indian]] words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological..by Henry Yule, AD Burnell).</ref>
+The earliest mention of the name ''Afghan'' (''Abgân'') is by [[Shapur I]] of the [[Sassanid Empire]] during the 3rd century CE,<ref name="Britannica-Abgan">{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7798/Afghanistan/129450/History?anchor=ref261360|title=History of Afghanistan|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|access-date=2010-11-22}}</ref><ref name="Habibi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Afghan_and_Afghanistan.htm |title=Afghan and Afghanistan |work=[[Abdul Hai Habibi]]|publisher=alamahabibi.com|year=1969|access-date=2010-10-24}}</ref><ref name="Abgan">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan -a country without a state?|last1=Noelle-Karimi|first1=Christine|author2=Conrad J. Schetter|author3=Reinhard Schlagintweit|year=2002|publisher=IKO|location=[[University of Michigan]], United States|isbn=3-88939-628-3|page=18|quote=''The earliest mention of the name 'Afghan' (Abgan) is to be found in a Sasanid inscription from the 3rd century, and it appears in India in the form of 'Avagana'...''|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo3tAAAAMAAJ|access-date=2010-09-24}}</ref> In the 4th century the word "Afghans/Afghana" (αβγανανο) as reference to the Pashtun people is mentioned in the [[Bactria]]n documents found in Northern Afghanistan.<ref name="Barkhuis">{{cite book |last1=Balogh |first1=Dániel |title=Hunnic Peoples in Central and South Asia: Sources for their Origin and History |date=12 March 2020 |publisher=Barkhuis |isbn=978-94-93194-01-4 |pages=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=frnVDwAAQBAJ&q=bunukan&pg=PA144 |language=en |quote=[ To Ormuzd Bunukan, ... greetings and homage from ... ), Pithe ( sot ] ang ( ? ) of Parpaz ( under ) [ the glorious ) yabghu of [ Heph ] thal, the chief ... of the Afghans}}</ref><ref name="Bactrian documents from northern Af">{{cite book |last1=Sims-Williams |first1=Nicholas |title=Bactrian documents from northern Afghanistan |date=2000 |publisher=The Nour Foundation in association with Azimuth Editions and Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=1-874780-92-7}}</ref> The word 'Afghan' is of [[Persian language|Persian]] origin to refer to the Pashtun people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of AFGHAN|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afghan|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> Some scholars suggest that the word "Afghan" is derived from the words ''awajan/apajan'' in [[Avestan]] and ''ava-Han/apa-Han'' in [[Sanskrit]], which means "killing, striking, throwing and resisting, or defending." Under the [[Sasanians]], and possibly the [[Parthian Empire]], the word was used to refer to men of a certain Persian sect.{{sfn|Fikrat|Umar|2008}} In the past, several scholars sought a connection with "horse", Skt.aśva-, Av.aspa-, i.e.the Aśvaka or Aśvakayana the name of the ''[[Aśvaka]]n'' or ''Assakan'', ancient inhabitants of the [[Hindu Kush]] region. Some have theorized that name of the ''Aśvakan'' or ''Assakan'' has been preserved in that of the modern [[Pashtun]], with the name Afghan being derived from [[Aśvaka|Asvakan]].<ref>''"The name Afghan has evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian... "'' (Megasthenes and Arrian, p 180. See also: Alexander's Invasion of India, p 38; J.W. McCrindle).</ref><ref>Indische Alterthumskunde, Vol I, fn 6; also Vol II, p 129, et al.</ref><ref>Etude Sur la Geog Grecque & c, pp 39–47, M. V. de Saint Martin.</ref><ref>The Earth and Its Inhabitants, 1891, p 83, Élisée Reclus – Geography.</ref><ref>''"Even the name Afghan is Aryan being derived from Asvakayana, an important clan of the Asvakas or horsemen who must have derived this title from their handling of celebrated breeds of horses"'' (See: Imprints of Indian Thought and Culture abroad, p 124, Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan).</ref><ref>cf: ''"Their name (Afghan) means "cavalier" being derived from the [[Sanskrit]], ''Asva'', or ''Asvaka'', a horse, and shows that their country must have been noted in ancient times, as it is at the present day, for its superior breed of horses. Asvaka was an important tribe settled north to Kabul river, which offered a gallant resistance but ineffectual resistance to the arms of Alexander "''(Ref: Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1999, p 275, Royal Scottish Geographical Society).</ref><ref>''"Afghans are Assakani of the [[Greeks]]; this word being the [[Sanskrit]] [[Ashvaka]] meaning 'horsemen' " ''  (Ref: Sva, 1915, p 113, Christopher Molesworth Birdwood).</ref><ref>Cf: ''"The name represents Sanskrit Asvaka in the sense of a ''cavalier'', and this reappears scarcely modified in the Assakani or Assakeni of the historians of the expedition of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]" '' (Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial [[Anglo-Indian]] words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological..by Henry Yule, AD Burnell).</ref>
 As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, [[Pashto|language]] or culture". According to the [[1964 Afghanistan Constitution|1964 Constitution of Afghanistan]], all Afghans citizens are equal in rights and obligations before the law.<ref>{{cite web|title=Article 1 of the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.afghan-web.com/history/const/const1964.html|publisher=Government of Afghanistan|access-date=June 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917002320/http://www.afghan-web.com/history/const/const1964.html|archive-date=2011-09-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fourth article of the [[Constitution of Afghanistan|Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]] which was valid until 2021 states that citizens of Afghanistan consist of Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Aimaq, Arab, [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]], [[Afghan Qizilbash|Qizilbash]], [[Gurjar]], [[Brahui people|Brahui]], and members of other ethnicities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/page/constitution|quote=National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess the citizenship of Afghanistan. The nation of Afghanistan shall be {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui and other tribes. The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. The citizenship and asylum related matters shall be regulated by law.|year=2004|access-date=2013-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804082548/http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/page/constitution|archive-date=2016-08-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are political disputes regarding this: there are members of the non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan that reject the term Afghan being applied to them, and there are Pashtuns in Pakistan that wish to have the term Afghan applied to them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-politics-idUKKBN1FS1WH|title=Who is an Afghan? Row over ID cards fuels ethnic tension|newspaper=Reuters|date=February 8, 2018|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/2/6/qa-afghanistans-tajiks-plea-for-federalism|title=Q&A: Afghanistan's Tajiks plea for federalism|first=Hashmatallah|last=Moslih|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theglobepost.com/2018/05/25/afghanistan-identity-politics/|title=Identity Politics in Afghanistan: Nation-State or State-Nation?|date=May 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nikvalentini.medium.com/nation-identity-and-the-future-of-afghanistan-aa47d6f17bf2|title=Nation, identity and the future of Afghanistan|first=Nicole|last=Valentini|date=July 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbNyrg83Q0A|title=Miranshah PTM Jalsa Lar Ao bar Nary لر او بر یو افغان|date=15 November 2020 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
+=== Usage as an ethnonym ===
 The pre-nation state, historical ethnonym [[Afghan (ethnonym)|Afghan]] was used to refer to a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. Due to the changing political nature of the state the meaning has changed, and term has shifted to be the [[national identity]] of people from Afghanistan from all ethnicities.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/johnson/2011/09/21/ask-johnson-afghans-afghanis-afghanistanis|title=Ask Johnson: Afghans, Afghanis, Afghanistanis|date=September 21, 2011|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref><ref name="Kieffer">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afgan-in-current-political-usage-any-citizen-of-afghanistan-whatever-his-ethnic-tribal-or-religious-affiliation |title=Afghan |first=Ch. M. |last=Kieffer |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |quote=From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "Afḡān" is the term by which the Persian-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Paṧtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Paṧtūn. The equation Afghans = Paṧtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Paṧtūn tribal confederation is by far the most important in the country, numerically and politically. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116233835/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afgan-in-current-political-usage-any-citizen-of-afghanistan-whatever-his-ethnic-tribal-or-religious-affiliation |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="ABCBBCARD">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1083a1Afghanistan2009.pdf |title=ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll – Afghanistan: Where Things Stand |pages=38–40 |work=ABC News |location=Kabul, Afghanistan |access-date=29 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628130800/https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1083a1Afghanistan2009.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2011}}</ref>
 From a more limited, ethnological point of view, "''Afḡhān''" is the term by which the [[Dari|Persian]]-speakers of Afghanistan (and the non-Pashtō-speaking ethnic groups generally) designate the Pashtūn. The equation Afghans = Pashtūn has been propagated all the more, both in and beyond Afghanistan, because the Pashtūn tribal confederation has maintained its hegemony in the country, numerically and politically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Encyclopaedia Iranica |title=Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=https://iranicaonline.org/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=iranicaonline.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
+=== Variations ===
-== Afghanistani, Afghani and Afghanese ==
-The less common Afghanistani (افغانستانی) is an alternative identity marker for citizens of [[Afghanistan]]. The term "Afghanistani" refers to someone who possesses the nationality of Afghanistan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistani Definitions {{!}} What does afghanistani mean? {{!}} Best 2 Definitions of Afghanistani |url=https://www.yourdictionary.com/afghanistani |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.yourdictionary.com}}</ref> regardless of what race, ethnic, religious background.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bulut |first1=Meryem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1z2zDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |title=Anthropological Perspectives on Transnational Encounters in Turkey: War, Migration and Experiences of Coexistence |last2=Şahin |first2=Kadriye |date=2019-10-02 |publisher=Transnational Press London |isbn=978-1-912997-26-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bezhan |first=Faridullah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5AfAAAACAAJ |title=Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms |date=2006 |publisher=Monash Asia Institute |isbn=978-1-876924-44-7 |language=en}}</ref> In multiethnic Afghanistan, the term "Afghan" has always been associated with Pashtun people. Some non-Pashtun citizens such as Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks have viewed it as a part of Pashtun hegemony that devised to erase their ethnic identity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Barnett R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lIhakYwWEmwC&pg=PA112 |title=Afghanistan in the Post-Cold War Era |date=2013-05-09 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-979112-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Boon |first1=Kristen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-dMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR11 |title=Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Conflict in Afghanistan |last2=Lovelace |first2=Douglas |last3=Huq |first3=Aziz Z. |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-975825-8 |language=en}}</ref> The term Afghanistani has been used among some refugees and diasporas, particularly among non-Pashtuns.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bezhan |first=Faridullah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5AfAAAACAAJ |title=Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms [this book with title Afghanistani was published in 2006] |date=2006 |publisher=Monash Asia Institute |isbn=978-1-876924-44-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistani mother responds to pregnant Kiwi journalist's plea |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/01/31/afghanistani-mother-responds-to-pregnant-kiwi-journalists-plea/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=راه‌حل‌های راهبردی برای پناهندگان افغانستانی [UNHCR Iran uses Afghanistani] |url=https://www.unhcr.org/ir/fa/solutions-strategy-for-afghan-refugees-ssar/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=آژانس پناهندگان سازمان ملل در ایران |language=fa-IR}}</ref>
+The less common Afghanistani (افغانستانی) is an alternative identity marker for citizens of Afghanistan. The term "Afghanistani" refers to someone who possesses the nationality of Afghanistan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistani Definitions {{!}} What does afghanistani mean? {{!}} Best 2 Definitions of Afghanistani |url=https://www.yourdictionary.com/afghanistani |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.yourdictionary.com}}</ref> regardless of what race, ethnic, religious background.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bulut |first1=Meryem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1z2zDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |title=Anthropological Perspectives on Transnational Encounters in Turkey: War, Migration and Experiences of Coexistence |last2=Şahin |first2=Kadriye |date=2019-10-02 |publisher=Transnational Press London |isbn=978-1-912997-26-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bezhan |first=Faridullah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5AfAAAACAAJ |title=Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms |date=2006 |publisher=Monash Asia Institute |isbn=978-1-876924-44-7 |language=en}}</ref> In multiethnic Afghanistan, the term "Afghan" has always been associated with Pashtun people. Some non-Pashtun citizens such as Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks have viewed it as a part of Pashtun hegemony that devised to erase their ethnic identity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Barnett R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lIhakYwWEmwC&pg=PA112 |title=Afghanistan in the Post-Cold War Era |date=2013-05-09 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-979112-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Boon |first1=Kristen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-dMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR11 |title=Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Conflict in Afghanistan |last2=Lovelace |first2=Douglas |last3=Huq |first3=Aziz Z. |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-975825-8 |language=en}}</ref> The term Afghanistani has been used among some refugees and diasporas, particularly among non-Pashtuns.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bezhan |first=Faridullah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5AfAAAACAAJ |title=Afghanistani Storytelling and Writing: History, Performance and Forms [this book with title Afghanistani was published in 2006] |date=2006 |publisher=Monash Asia Institute |isbn=978-1-876924-44-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistani mother responds to pregnant Kiwi journalist's plea |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/01/31/afghanistani-mother-responds-to-pregnant-kiwi-journalists-plea/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=راه‌حل‌های راهبردی برای پناهندگان افغانستانی [UNHCR Iran uses Afghanistani] |url=https://www.unhcr.org/ir/fa/solutions-strategy-for-afghan-refugees-ssar/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=آژانس پناهندگان سازمان ملل در ایران |language=fa-IR}}</ref>
 The term ''Afghani'' refers to the unit of [[Afghan afghani|Afghan currency]]. The term is also often used in the English language (and appears in some dictionaries) for a person or thing related to Afghanistan, although some have expressed the opinion that this usage is incorrect.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2001 |title=Chatterbox: More on 'Afghani' |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2001/10/more_on_afghani.html |access-date=March 29, 2013 |website=[[Slate.com|Slate]]}}</ref> A reason for this usage can be because the term "Afghani" (افغانی) is in fact a valid demonym for Afghans in the overall [[Persian language]], whereas "Afghan" is derived from Pashto. Thus "Afghan" is the [[Anglicisation|anglicized]] term of "Afghani" when translating from Dari Persian, but not Pashto.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2, 2001 |title=Afghan vs. Afghani, Part 3 |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2001/12/afghan-vs-afghani-part-3.html |access-date=October 1, 2021 |website=[[Slate.com|Slate]]}}</ref> Another variant is ''Afghanese'', which has been seldom used in place of Afghan.<ref>{{cite book |author=George Newenham Wright |title=A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer, Volume 3 |year=1836}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=VanBurenTN18781018-01.1.7&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------|title=True Northerner 18 October 1878 — Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection|website=digmichnews.cmich.edu|accessdate=11 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 October 2017 |title=Beauty is the quiet of the self forgotten |url=https://jkrishnamurti.org/content/beauty-quiet-self-forgotten}}</ref>
-==Ethnicity==
+==Ethnicities==
 [[File:Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic Groups 1982.jpg|thumb|Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan and its surroundings (1982).]]
 {{main|Ethnic groups in Afghanistan}}
 Afghans come from various ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups are [[Pashtuns]], [[Tajiks]], [[Hazaras]], and [[Uzbeks]], who make up approximately 95% of the population of Afghanistan. They are of diverse origins including of [[Iranic peoples|Iranic]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] or [[Mongolic peoples|Mongolic]] ethnolinguistic roots.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The Arbiters of Afghanistan|author=Anatol Lieven|journal=The National Interest|year=2016|issue=145|pages=28–36|publisher=Center for the National Interest|jstor=26557334|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26557334}}</ref>
-==Religion==
+==Religions==
 {{main|Religion in Afghanistan}}
-[[File:Blue Mosque in the northern Afghan city in 2012.jpg|thumb|The [[Hazrat Ali Mazar|Masjid-e-Kabud]], popularly known as the ''Blue Mosque'', in [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], [[Balkh Province]], [[Afghanistan]], April 3, 2012.]]
+[[File:Blue Mosque in the northern Afghan city in 2012.jpg|thumb|The [[Hazrat Ali Mazar|Masjid-e-Kabud]], popularly known as the ''Blue Mosque'', in [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], Balkh Province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2012.]]
-The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of [[Islam]], of whom around 90% are of the [[Sunni]] branch, and 10% [[Shia Islam|Shia]]. Other religious minorities include the [[Afghan Hindus]], [[Afghan Sikhs]], [[Afghan Zoroastrians]], [[Afghan Jews]] and [[Afghan Christians]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghan Culture - Religion |url=http://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/afghan-culture/afghan-culture-religion |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Cultural Atlas |date=January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
+The Afghan people of all ethnicities are predominantly and traditionally followers of [[Islam]], of whom around 90% are of [[Sunni]] and 10% the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] branch. Other religious minorities include the [[Afghan Hindus]], [[Afghan Sikhs]], [[Afghan Zoroastrians]], [[Afghan Jews]] and [[Afghan Christians]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghan Culture – Religion |url=http://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/afghan-culture/afghan-culture-religion |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Cultural Atlas |date=January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
 ==Culture==
@@ Line 167: / Line 170: @@
 * [[Name of Afghanistan]]
 * [[Afghan diaspora]]
-* [[Pashtuns]]
 {{clear}}

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