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During the British Raj the Pashtuns were called "Pathans" by the British.
The word Afghan is originally a synonym for Pashtun, and it is still the use of the word in many parts of Afghanistan and the world. Because of this etymology, the Pashtuns are often referred to as "ethnic Afghans". By logic, ethnic Uzbeks, Hazaras, Punjabis, Turkmens, Sindhis, Kalash, Nuristani, Tajiks, Cantonese, Balochi, Bwities and others are not ethnic Afghans, though they may in fact be credible and honorable Afghan citizens of Afghanistan. Just as Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other countries were named for their historical majority ethnic group, so was Afghanistan.
The British identified the Pashtuns as one of the martial races of the Indian Subcontinent. Throughout Pashtun history the warrior has been the most revered member of society. The term 'Pakhto' or 'Pashto' from which they derive their name is not merely the name of their language, but the name of a honour code and religion. The main tenets of 'Pakhto' or formally known as Pashtunwali are:
Although the Pashtun people are extremely protective of their womenfolk from prying 'foreign' eyes, in the home women are undeniably in-charge and society is very matriarchal in nature. All Pashtun men are extremely close to their mothers and indeed they are encouraged to espouse the virtues of a chivalrous warrior by their mothers.
Pashtun heritage and Pashtunwali is transmitted from generation to generation in the form of a number of verbal stories or anecdotes that every child becomes acquainted with through his/ her parents. For example mothers often tell their children that a Pashtun boy was once asked to get his mother a glass of water while she lay in bed. On his return his mother had fallen asleep so the boy stayed awake all night waiting for her to wake up so that he could give her the glass of water. He did not want to disturb her by waking her up.
Mothers are generally very tough on their male children when it comes to being well-mannered. After a certain age boys are not allowed to be in the presence of their own mothers without their shirts on.
The Pashtuns are predominantly a tribal people, however, increasing numbers now dwell in cities and urban settlements. Many still identify themselves with various clans. Clan names are increasingly being adapted as western-style last names or family names. The major Pashtun tribes are as follows:
Jehangir Khan and Jansher Khan have, between them, held the number one rank in international Squash for well over a decade. They come from a famous line of Pashtun squash players. Mohibullah Khan (also known as Mo Khan) was also from this line and he has won the North American Racquetball Championships a number of times. Mohibullah Khan was very close to the Kennedys and, at an obituary, a Kennedy said of him "Mo Khan was from the Irish part of Pakistan."
Ghulam Ishaq Khan has been President of Pakistan and has established an Engineering School and University known as the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science and Technology in Topi, Pakistan.
Kernal Sher Khan, a Pakistani soldier has the distinction of recently receiving Pakistan's highest military award of honour known as the 'Nishan-i-Haider.'
Hamid Karzai , the current President of Afghanistan is an ethnic Afghan.
The 19th century partition of Afghanistan by the British between India and Afghanistan remains a sore point amongst political Pashtun leaders to this day, such as Abdul Wali Khan.
Although Pashtuns formed the backbone of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, traditionally, Pashtuns have cooperated well with other ethnic groups in Afghanistan and most Pashtuns in Afghanistan are bi or trilingual: speaking Persian or Tajik in addition to Afghan. Intermarriages between Pashtuns and other ethnic groups in Afghanistan are very common place.