Collection of notable Pashtun figures From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pashtuns,[1] also known as Pakhtuns or Afghans, are an ethnic group that inhabit the Pashtunistan region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.[2][3] They are one of the most populous ethnic groups in both countries. There is a significant Pashtuns diaspora in neighbouring countries such as Iran, Pakistan and India.[4]
Tribal and religious leaders of Afghans (Ethnic Pashtuns) in southern Afghanistan
Pashtuns are traditionally organised into tribal divisions, and their society is defined by the Pashtunwali, the traditional code by which they live. It is extremely important in the social structure and interactions of the Pashtun tribes.
There are more than 350–400 Pashtun tribes making Pashtuns the world's largest segmentary lineage society.[5]
Bahlul Lodi – founder of Lodi Dynasty (reigned 1451–1489), most powerful of the Pashtun chiefs, who replaced the last king of the Sayyid dynasty in 1451
Najib Khan Yousafzai – Nawab of Rohilla, instrumental in Afghan Victory at Panipat in 1761, inflicting the largest number of fatalities in a classic formation between two armies
Sartor Faqir – Pashtun tribal Yusufzai leader and freedom fighter; declared a jihad against the British Empire, unsuccessfully in 1895, then successfully in 1897
Afghanistan
Farhad Darya (Afghanistan) – Afghan singer and composer, known for his contributions to Afghan music.
Pakistan
Abdul Ghani Khan (Pakistan) – Pashto poet, writer, philosopher, and artist[6]
Sardar Ali Takkar (Pakistan/Afghanistan) – popular sufist Pashto singer.
Raheem Shah (Pakistan) – popular Pashto and Urdu singer
Khyal Muhammad (Pakistan) – prominent Pashto folk singer
Gulzar Alam (Pakistan) – Pashto singer and music composer
Abdul Ahad Momand (Afghanistan) – 4th Muslim astronaut who visited Space and first Muslim in the entire world who bring Quran to the moon. Due to Abdul Ahad Momand, Islam is now the 4th religion practiced in space. He spoke Pashto in space so Pashto is the 4th language spoken in the space.
Jahangir Khan (Pakistan) – Pakistani tourist who became the first Pashtun and the second Pakistani to fly around the world in commercial aircraft.
Hakeemullah Khan Durrani (Pakistan) – Former Pakistani Air Marshal and Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force.
Sharif Fayez – Afghan architect and urban planner who has contributed to the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
Hayatullah Khan Durrani – Afghan architect and urban planner who has played a vital role in the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan
Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman. He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.
Yusuf Khattak – Pakistani left-wing intellectual Politician, Pakistan Movement Activist, Federal Minister and statesman who represented Pakistan internationally
Suleman Khan ZADRAN – Scientist at Università di Bologna Known as the first Afghan national scientist holding Doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology with expertise in Molecular and Epigenetic mechanisms of cancers, Nanomedicine, Biosensor, Chemical and Synthetic Biology as well as the Advanced molecular techniques for the Manipulation of M13 Filamentous Phage against Neuroblastoma.
Madhubala; Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi – cinema superstar of India, she starred in over 60 films in the span of 20 years including the epic Mughal-e-Azam, the highest-grossing film in India's history
Parveen Babi – Indian actress and model known for being the first Bollywood star to appear on the cover of Time magazine. She hailed from the Babi dynasty.
Amjad Khan – Indian actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character Gabbar Singh in the film "Sholay." He belonged to a Pashtun family.
Kader Khan - Indian actor, screenwriter and film producer. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and is an ethnic Pashtun of the Kakar tribe.
Zareen Khan – Indian actress who made her debut in Bollywood. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side and originally from Swat
Aamir Khan – famous Bollywood actor, his family has roots from Herat in Afghanistan, he belongs to the Khan-Hussain family.
Irrfan Khan - Indian actor, who belongs to a family of Pathan ancestry.
Pakistan
Nazir Ahmed Khan – Nazir Ahmed Khan, renowned director, actor, producer, filmmaker, pioneer and founding father of Pakistan Film Industry post partition. He was also one of the pioneers of the pre-partition Sub Continental Film Industry starting from Calcutta and spanning to Bombay and Lahore.
Adeeb – Pakistani filmactor. He appeared in 38 Indian films from 1940 to 1962, although he did not start performing in films very actively until the 1950s
Mahira Khan – Pakistani actress known for her roles in Pakistani and Indian films. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai – Afghan former politician, academic, and economist who served as the president of Afghanistan from September 2014 until August 2021, when his government was overthrown by the Taliban.
Daud Khan Achakzai (Pakistan), chairperson of senate committee on communication and member of Senate Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Law and Justice, Defence Production, Select Committee from Awami National Party (ANP)
Hafizullah Amin – He remained the 3rd head of state Afghanistan from Sept 19ember79 to Dec 19ember79, H. organizedsed theur communist Revolution in 1978.
Babrak Karmal – He served as the Head of state from 1979 to 1986 from People's Democratic Party.
Karnal Sher Khan – Pakistani military captain and recipient of Nishan-e-Haider for his role in the Kargil War, one of the only eleven holders of the highest military award.
khilji dynasty was the second dynasty which ruled the Delhi sultanate, covering large parts of the Indian subcontinent for nearly three decades between 1290 and 1320.It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji
Durrani Empire (1747-1823)
Ahmad Shah Abdali – Founder of Durrani Empire. and Former ruler of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and some parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Timur Shah Durrani – Second Ruler of Durrani Empire and Former ruler of Afghanistan and Punjab Region.
Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai (7 July 1907 – 2 December 1973) (Pashto: عبدالصمد خان اڅکزی), commonly known as Khan Shaheed (خان شهيد) was a Pashtun nationalist and political idealist. Abdul Samad Khan spent half his life in prisons in British India and Pakistan. Khan Shaheed gave the idea of Pashtunistan.
Rashid Khan – Afghan cricketer and one of the best spin bowlers in the world. He has achieved great success in international cricket. Khan has taken 176 wickets in the international matches under the age of 20 and thus got his name in the Guinness World Records. From Nangarhar Province
Hamid Hassan – Former Afghan cricketer who played as a fast bowler and represented Afghanistan in international matches. From Nangarhar Province
Rahmanullah (Pashto: رحمان الله ګربز; born 28 November 2001) is an Afghan cricketer. He made his international debut for Afghanistan in September 2019.
Shahid Afridi – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the most popular and successful all-rounders in the game.
Imran Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer, legendary fast bowler, and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Younis Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the leading run-scorers in Test cricket history.
Zubair Ahmed – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Samiullah Khan – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won three gold medals at the Olympics and is considered one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.
Jahangir Khan – Former Pakistani squash player, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history.
Junaid Jamshed, was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, television personality, fashion designer, actor, engineer, and preacher. Junaid Jamshed was born in a KhattakPathan family in Karachi.