List of Pashtun People

Tribal and religious leaders of Afghans (Ethnic Pashtuns) in southern Afghanistan

Pashtuns, also known as Pakhtuns, Pathans, or Afghan, are an ethnic group that largely inhabits Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are one of the most populous ethnic groups in both countries and have a long and illustrious history. Pashtuns are also well-represented in neighbouring countries such as Iran and India.

Pashtuns are traditionally organised into tribal divisions, and their society is defined by the Pashtunwali code of honour and hospitality. Pashtunwali is a set of beliefs and values that include courage, loyalty, justice, and hospitality. It is extremely important in the social structure and interactions of Pashtun tribes.

There are more than 350–400 Afghan (Ethnic Pashtuns) tribes making Pashtun the world largest segmentary lineage society.

Artists

• Abdul Ghani Khan (Afghanistan/Pakistan) - Pashto poet, writer, philosopher, and artist.
• Rahim Shah (Pakistan) - Popular Pashto and Urdu singer.
• Khyal Muhammad (Pakistan) - Prominent Pashto folk singer.
• Gulzar Alam (Pakistan) - Pashto singer and music composer.
• Farhad Darya (Afghanistan) - Afghan singer and composer, known for his contributions to Afghan music.
• Gull Panra (Pakistan) - Pashto female singer.

Authors

• Khan Abdul Ghani Khan (Pakistan) - Prominent Pashto poet, philosopher, and writer.
• Hamza Shinwari (Pakistan) - Pashto poet and writer known for his romantic poetry.
• Ajmal Khattak (Pakistan) - Pashto poet, writer, and politician.
• Khushal Khan Khattak (Afghanistan) - Pashto poet, warrior, and tribal chief from the 17th century.
• Rahman Baba (Afghanistan) - Renowned Pashto poet and Sufi saint.
• Abaseen Yousafzai (Pakistan) - Pashto poet known for his modernist poetry.
• Khatir Afridi (Pakistan) - Pashto poet and writer.
• Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi (India) - Sunni Islamic Scholar, Jurist and Mufti.

Aviators

• Jahangir Khan (Pakistan) - Pakistani aviator who became the first Pashtun and the second Pakistani to fly around the world solo in a small aircraft.
• Abdul Ahad Momand (Afghanistan), 4th Muslim astronaut who visited Space and first Muslim in the entire world who bring Quran to the space. Due to Abdul Ahad Momand, Pashto is now the 4th language spoken in space.
• Ayesha Farooq (Pakistan) - First female fighter pilot from the Pashtun community in Pakistan.
• Hayatullah Khan Durrani (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani Air Marshal and Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force.

Arhictects

• Sharif Fayez - An Afghan architect and urban planner who has contributed to the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
• Habib Ullah Khan - A renowned Pakistani architect known for his contributions to the field of architectural design and urban planning.
• Hayatullah Khan Durrani - An Afghan architect and urban planner who has played a vital role in the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
• Farid Esmaeil - An Afghan architect who has worked on several notable projects in Afghanistan, focusing on sustainable design and preservation of cultural heritage.
• Noor Khan Bayat - A Pashtun architect and urban planner who has worked on various architectural projects in Pakistan.
• Shamsul Qamar - An architect from Pakistan who has designed several notable buildings and structures.
• Hadi Nasiri - An Afghan architect and urban planner known for his work on projects related to urban development and sustainable architecture.
• Abasin Khan Achakzai - A Pakistani architect known for his expertise in sustainable design and construction.

Businessman

• Shahid Khan (United States) - Pakistani-American billionaire and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team and Fulham FC.
• Nasrullah Khan Durrani (Pakistan) - Founder and Chairman of Durrani Group, a prominent business conglomerate in Pakistan.
• Faisal Dawood (Pakistan) - CEO of Dawood Hercules Corporation, one of the largest industrial groups in Pakistan.
• Sirajuddin Aziz (Pakistan) - CEO of Habib Metropolitan Bank, one of the leading banks in Pakistan.
• Saad Mohseni (Afghanistan) - Co-founder and CEO of MOBY Group, a leading media and entertainment company in Afghanistan.
• Malik Abdul Rahim (Pakistan) - Founder and Chairman of Abdul Rahim Group, a diversified business group with interests in manufacturing, construction, and real estate.

Scientists

• Abdul Qadeer Khan (Pakistan) - Pakistani nuclear scientist known for his pivotal role in Pakistan's nuclear program.
• Ghulam Sediq Wardak (Afghanistan) - A Pashtun inventor who is known for more than 344 inventions.
• Ziauddin Sardar (Pakistan) - Scientist and author of more than 50 books.
• Rafiullah Kakar (Pakistan) - Pakistani agricultural scientist specializing in crop breeding and genetics.

Film Industry

• Dilip Kumar (Muhammad Yusuf Khan) - Legendary Indian actor known for his performances in Hindi films. He was born into a Pathan family in Peshawar, now in present-day Pakistan.

Shah Rukh khan, Bollywood's most famous star, is from Pathan ethnicity.

• Shah Rukh Khan - Indian actor and film producer, often referred to as the "King of Bollywood." He has Pathan ancestry from his father's side.

• Feroz Khan - Indian actor, film director, and film producer who had a successful career in Hindi cinema. He was of Pashtun heritage.
• Amjad Khan - Indian actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character Gabbar Singh in the film "Sholay." He belonged to a Pashtun family.
• Fardeen Khan - Indian film actor and son of actor Feroz Khan. He has Pathan ancestry from his father's side.
• Zareen Khan - Indian actress who made her debut in Bollywood. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
• Huma Qureshi - Indian actress who has appeared in Hindi films. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
• Mahira Khan - Pakistani actress known for her roles in Pakistani and Indian films. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
• Arbaaz Khan - Indian actor, film producer, and director. He is of Pathan descent.
• Zayed Khan - Indian actor and son of actor Sanjay Khan. He has Pathan ancestry from his father's side.
• Sahil Khan - Indian actor and model.

Pakistan

• Adeeb - was a Pakistani film actor. He appeared in 38 Indian films from 1940 to 1962, although he did not start performing in films very actively until the 1950s

Journalists

• Rahimullah Yusufzai - Pakistani journalist and expert on Afghan affairs, known for his reporting on the region.
• Saleem Safi - Pakistani journalist, columnist, and television anchor, specializing in political analysis and current affairs.
• Najiba Ayubi - Afghan journalist and women's rights advocate, known for her work in promoting press freedom and advocating for women's rights.
• Nasim Zehra - Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her expertise in political analysis and foreign affairs.
• Farahnaz Zahidi - Pakistani journalist and writer, known for her contributions to women's rights, social issues, and human rights.
• Sami Yousafzai - Afghan journalist who has reported extensively on the Taliban and the situation in Afghanistan.
• Asma Shirazi - Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her work in political journalism and interviewing prominent figures.
• Iftikhar Ahmad - Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for his talk show focused on political and social issues.
• Hassan Abbas - Pakistani journalist, author, and academic, specializing in security and political analysis.

Politicians

Pakistan

• Abdul Haq Akorwi (Pakistan) - Prominent political leader, Mujahid during Soviet Afghan war and a teacher from Akora Khattak.
• Abdul Shakoor (Pakistan) - former Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony of Pakistan.
• Abdullah Abdullah (Afghanistan) - former leader of the National Coalition of Afghanistan and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
• Abdul Majeed Khan Achakzai (Pakistan) - Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
• Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai (Pakistan) - Freedom fighter and one of the well known politician from Balochistan.
• Daud Khan Achakzai (Pakistan) - the 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)
• Hamid Khan Achakzai - a Pakistani politician from Balochistan affiliated with the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
• Mahmood Khan Achakzai - is a Pakistani Pashtun regionalist politician who is the Chairman of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
• Muhammad Khan Achakzai - is a Pakistani politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Balochistan.

Presidents

India

• Zakir Husain Afridi - served as Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and was elected the Vice President of India in 1962. Husain was the first Muslim and the first governor of a state to be elected President of India.

Pakistan

• Muhammad Ayub Khan - Muhammad Ayub Khan (1907–1974), Pakistani military commander who served as President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.
• Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (4 February 1917–10 August 1980) was a Pakistani military officer who served as the third president of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971.
• Ghulam Ishaq Khan, (20 January 1915–27 October 2006), was a Pakistani politician who served as the seventh president of Pakistan from 1988 to 1993.

Afghanistan

• Mohammad Daoud Khan - served as the first President of Afghanistan from 1973 to 1978.
• Nur Muhammad Khan Taraki - Served as the second President of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1979.
• 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.
• Haji Muhammad Khan - He served as the Head of state from 1986 to 1987.
• Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai - He served as the communist Head of state from 1987 to 1992.
• Abdul Rahim Hatif - After the assassination of Dr Najibullah, He acted as the president of Afghanistan for 2 weeks.

Military

Pakistan Armed Forces

• General Yahya Khan - 3rd President of Pakistan, also served as Chief of Army Staff.
  

  General Ayub Khan, former Pakistan Army chief and President of Pakistan was from the Tareen tribe of Pashtuns.
• General Ayub Khan - 2nd President of Pakistan and former Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
• General Abdul Waheed Kakar - Former Chief of Army Staff.
• General Aftab Ahmad Khan - Former Chief of Army Staff.
• General Ehsan ul Haq - Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Director-General of ISI.
• General Sher Ali Khan Pataudi - Former Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
• General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi - Commander of Eastern Military High Command during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
• General Mohammad Iqbal Khan - Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
• Lieutenant General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan - Served as Chief of Army Staff.
• Lieutenant General Habibullah Khan Khattak - Former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Corps Commander Peshawar.

Afghanistan Armed Forces

• Abdul Raziq Achakzai - former lieutenant commander of Afghan armed forces.

Royalty

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.
• Zaman Shah Durrani - Third Ruler of Durrani Empire.

Hotak Empire

• Mirwais Khan Hotak - Founder of Hotak Empire. Also known as the "Emir Of Greater Afghanistan".
• Abdul Aziz Hotak - Second Ruler of Hotak Empire.
• Mahmud Hotak - Second ruler of Hotak Empire. He was known as the Shah of Iran.
• Ashraf Hotak - Third Ruler of Hotak Empire. Also known as the Shah of Iran. He defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Ottoman Hotak War.
• Hussain Hotak - 4th and Last ruler of Hotak Dynasty,

Sport Persons

Cricket

• Asghar Afghan - Afghan Cricketer and former captain of the Afghanistan national cricket team.

• Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the most popular and successful all-rounders in the game.
• Imran Khan (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani cricketer, legendary fast bowler, and the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.
• Younis Khan (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the leading run-scorers in Test cricket history.
• Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) - Afghan cricketer and one of the best spin bowlers in the world. He has achieved great success in international cricket.
• Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan) - Former Afghan cricketer who played as a fast bowler and represented Afghanistan in international matches.
• Khaibar Amani (Afghanistan) - Professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and has represented Afghanistan internationally.
• Zubair Ahmed (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani field hockey player who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Samiullah Khan (Pakistan) - 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.
• Zahir Shah (Afghanistan) - Afghan taekwondo athlete who represented Afghanistan at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Jahangir Khan (Pakistan) - Former Pakistani squash player, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history