TheTurkic people in AfghanistanareTurkic peoplefrom modern dayAfghanistan.The major Turkic tribes are theQizilbashs,Uzbeks,Kyrgyzs,Turkmens,andHazaras.The Qizilbashs came to Afghanistan during theAfsharidandDurranirule in Afghanistan and since they worked at high government jobs, but also made up parts of the army, especially whenTimur Shah Durraniwanted to get rid of the dependency on Pashtun tribes and expanded his army by 12.000 Qizilbash soldiers.Zaman Shah Durraniscavalry consisted of 100.000 men, who were mostly Qizilbashs.[1]Today they live in big cities likeKabul,Mazar e Sharif,andKandahar.Currently they speak mainlyPersianas their language, however in some regions, as in Kandahar, they also speakPashto.[citation needed]They speak the same language as their ethnic equivalents inCentral Asia.Kyrgyz peoplesettle theWakhan Corridorof Afghanistan and are also really isolated there. The number of them was 1,130 in 2003, all from easternWakhan District[2]in theBadakhshan Provinceof northeastern Afghanistan.[3]They still lead a nomadic lifestyle and are led by akhanortekin.[citation needed]
1Central Asian (i.e.Turkmeni,AfghaniandIranian)Turkmens,distinct from Levantine (i.e.IraqiandSyrian) Turkmen/Turkoman minorities, who mostly adhere to an Ottoman-Turkish heritage and identity.
2In traditional areas of Turkish settlement (i.e. formerOttomanterritories).
