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Ghilzai
EntityQ205377· pop 26· linked from 469 articles

The Ghiljī (, ; ), also spelled Khilji, Khalji, or Ghilzai and Ghilzay (), are one of the largest Pashtun tribes. Their traditional homeland is Ghazni and Qalati Ghilji in Afghanistan but they have also settled in other regions throughout the Afghanistan-Pakistan Pashtun belt. The modern nomadic Kochi people are predominantly made up of Ghilji tribes. The Ghilji make up around 20–25% of Afghanistan's total population.

Key facts

Tribe.name
Ghilji
Tribe.image
Sirdar Habibullah Gilzai and other Khans in 1879-80.jpg
Tribe.caption
Ghilji chieftains in Kabul ()
Tribe.ethnicity
Pashtuns
Tribe.location
Afghanistan, Pakistan
Tribe.branches
Ahmadzai, Akakhel, Andar, Hotak, Ibrahimkhel, Ibrahimzai, Kharoti, Lodi, Nasar, Stanikzai, Sakzai, Sulaimankhel, Tarakai, Tokhi
Tribe.language
Pashto
Tribe.religion
18px Islam

via Wikipedia infobox

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Article

19 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • Descent and origin
  • Mythical genealogy
  • History
  • The Khalaj in medieval Islamic period
  • Transformation of the Khalaj
  • Khalji Dynasty
  • Timurid raids
  • Hotak dynasty
  • Azad Khan Afghan
  • Skirmishes with British forces
  • Barakzai period
  • Contemporary period
  • Areas of settlement
  • Pashto dialect
  • Subtribes
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References

The Ghiljī (, ; ), also spelled Khilji, Khalji, or Ghilzai and Ghilzay (), are one of the largest Pashtun tribes. Their traditional homeland is Ghazni and Qalati Ghilji in Afghanistan but they have also settled in other regions throughout the Afghanistan-Pakistan Pashtun belt. The modern nomadic Kochi people are predominantly made up of Ghilji tribes. The Ghilji make up around 20–25% of Afghanistan's total population.

They mostly speak the central dialect of Pashto with transitional features between the southern and northern varieties of Pashto.

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