Achakzai

Achakzai (baloch: اچکزئی, Pashto: اڅکزی) is the name of a group of families who belong to the Pashtun subtribe of the Tareen - Bor Tareen clan. Members of this group use "Achackzai" as their title or last-name so that they can keep record of their family tree and to easily recognize one another. The Achakzais are found primarily in southern Afghanistan and the region around Quetta, Pakistan. The tribe has a reputation in some circles for its raiding and smuggling activities since at least the time of Elphinstone. Acahkzai do not have a whole lot of population as compared to other Durrani tribes in Afghanistan. They are more loyal to Pakistan than their origin Afghanistan. [Barnett, R. Rubin, The Fragmentation of Afghanistan, Page 159]

ub-Tribes

This tribe is mainly divided into three subtribes
# AliSher
# Badin
# Gujjan

Further divisions

These tribes are further divided into various other sub-groups. There are various other subtribes within the 3 Sub clans of Achakzai clan, examples are: Asheyzai, Malayzai, Adozai, Shamshozai, Sultanzai, Matakzai, Ishaqzai, Alizai, Shakarzai, Hamidzai, and Ghabizai. These sub-groups are mainly settled in Pakistan.

Origin

The home area of the Achakzais is mainly in Southern Kandahar District Afghanistan and the bordering areas in Baluchistan Province, Pakistan. Major cities of the Achakzai are Spin Boldak in Afghanistan and Chaman and Qilla Abdullah in Pakistan. They are also in Gulistan, Toba Achakzai, Ghazi Abdullah Khan and Quetta.

History

British Era

Ghazi Abdullah Khan Achakzai was one of the leaders of the Afghan War of Independence of 1839. This war resulted in the destruction of a British Army that was 18,000 strong. The lone survivor was a doctor who made it to the fort of Jalalabad.

Ghazi Maedad Khan Achakzai was a commander of Afghan Army in second Anglo-Afghan war. He was given the duty to collect warriors of Achakzai tribe and command them into the second Anglo-Afghan war against British army. He fought on the side of Ghazi Ayub Khan in the Battle of Maiwand and was injured in this battle. Maedad Khan Achakzai was son of Badin Khan Achakzai, grand son of Gul Mohammad Khan Achakzai. He belonged to the Tharhatzai subtribe of Hamidzai Achakzais and was born in the Jilga district of Toba Achakzai. He died in the province of Herat where he had been serving in Afghan Army.
madat khan ghabizai madat khan ghabizai was chief of ghabizai tribe subtribe of achakzai who was living in gulistan and fought a very great war against British alongside tareens and syed British genral major genral England wrot in district guzutiear of 1906

oviet Era

Esmat Muslim was an Achakzai of the Adozai subclan and was a renowned military leader of the Soviet-backed regime in Afghanistan. His role in the conflict remains controversial, however, as he frequently changed sides between the Government and the rebels.He refused to work for the Americans and also opposed Hekmatyar's group, therefore he was pressurised and left Pakistan to join back the regime of president Najibullah in Kabul.Muslim was in fact an Army officier and in the last times became a tribal leader.

Nationalism

The Achakzais have been very active in the Pashtun nationalist movement. They are demanding, among other things, a separate province for the Pashtuns living in Pakistan to be named Pashtunistan, which must include: Quetta, Qilla Abdullah, Mianwali and the Pashtun parts of Balochistan, NWFP, FATA. Some famous Achakzai's are Mahmood Khan Achakzai (MNA & Chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party), and his father was another respectable politician, Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai. Mulla Abdul Salam Asheyzai was another renowned nationalist poet of this tribe who wrote some famous books based on Islamic issues and Pashtun nationalism his famous books include (Talab-e-Mazhab and Sosan-e-Chamman). Historically, the Achakzais have always fought for their land and most of the Achakzais are good in negotiation and conflict resolution. In addition, Achakzais are famous for their outspokenness.

ee also

*Pathan
*Tareen
*Pashtun tribes
*Pashtunistan

External links

* [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/index.isc?Article=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v1f4/v1f4a107.html Encyclopedia Iranica: ACƎKZĪ]

References