The Ahmadzai ( ps, احمدزی) is a

Pashtun Pashtuns (, , ; ps, پښتانه, ), also known as Pakhtuns or Pathans, are an Iranian ethnic group who are native to the geographic region of Pashtunistan in the present-day countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were historically r ...

subtribe of the

Ghilji The Ghiljī ( ps, غلجي, ; fa, خیلجی, Xelji) also spelled Khilji, Khalji, or Ghilzai or Ghilzay (), are one of the largest Pashtun tribes. Their traditional homeland is Ghazni and Qalati Ghilji in Afghanistan but they have also sett ...

confederacy. Ahmadzai Pashtun tribe is a Powandah tribe and are traditional nomadic merchant warriors. They are considered as the pioneers of trade among other Powandah merchant tribes. The tribe is more prosperous and are greeted with respect. Ahmadzai tribe is the largest tribe among Pashtuns. They follow

Pashtunwali Pashtunwali or Pakhtunwali ( ps, پښتونولي) is the traditional lifestyle and is best described as a code of honor of the Pashtun people, by which they live. Scholars widely have interpreted it as being "the way of the Afghans" or "the code ...

rigidly and are known for their Jirgahs. In history Ahmadzai are one of the strongest tribes and had control of power in Afghanistan. Ahmadzai tribe is known for their hospitality and strict code of conduct. There are some rules which no one can break and if they took responsibility they mean it. Currently, they are living in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They have properties in Islamabad and Peshawar. Large number of Ahmadzai have fought against the US invasion of Afghanistan. Traditionally, the Ahmadzai ranged from Logar to

Jalalabad Jalalabad (; Dari/ ps, جلال‌آباد, ) is the fifth-largest city of Afghanistan. It has a population of about 356,274, and serves as the capital of Nangarhar Province in the eastern part of the country, about from the capital Kabul. Jala ...

, but mostly in

Paktia Paktia ( Pashto/ Dari: – ''Paktyā'') is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the east of the country. Forming part of the larger Loya Paktia region, Paktia Province is divided into 15 districts and has a population of roughl ...

Paktika Paktika (Pashto/Dari: ) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. Forming part of the larger Loya Paktia region, Paktika has a population of about 789,000, mostly ethnic Pashtuns. The town of Sharana ...

, and

Khost Khōst ( ps, خوست) is the capital of Khost Province in Afghanistan. It is the largest city in the southeastern part of the country, and also the largest in the region of Loya Paktia. To the south and east of Khost lie Waziristan and Kurram ...

. A large portion of the tribe live as Kochi nomads.Ethnic Identity in Afghanistan

Naval Postgraduate School The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. It offers master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 70 fields of study to the U.S. Armed Forces, DOD c ...

Sub Tribes of Ghilzai Ahmadzai are Isa Khel, Jabar Khel, Maruf Khel, Musa Khel, Zandak Khel, Ya Khel. There are some other tribes within these sub-tribes. The former Afghan presidents

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (born 19 May 1949) is an Afghan 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. Born in ...

(2014–2021) and Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai (1987–1992) belonged to the Ahmadzai tribe.

Notable Ahmadzai

, former President of Afghanistan, 2014-2021 *

Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai (Pashto/Dari: حشمت غنی احمدزی; born October 29, 1960) commonly referred to as Hashmat Ghani, is an Afghan politician who is the Grand Council Chieftain of the Kuchis. Early years Ghani was born on October 29 ...

, Grand Council Chieftain of the Kochi people *

Mirwais Ahmadzaï Mirwais Ahmadzaï (born 23 October 1960), known mononymously as Mirwais, is a French electronic dance music record producer and songwriter. Born in Switzerland to an Afghan father and an Italian mother, Ahmadzaï was a member of the defunct 198 ...

, France-based musician and record producer * Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai, President of Afghanistan, 1987–1992 * Mohammad Sarwar Ahmedzai, politician, 2014 Afghan presidential candidate * Abdul Haq, Afghan Mujahideen leader

References

{{Pashtun tribes Ghilji Pashtun tribes