PASHTUNS AND PASHTUN TRIBES OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: THEIR QUANTITY AND SETTLEMENT

Taliban Movement’s second coming to power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 revives interest in the Pashtuns, who make up most supporters and participants of the organization which is banned in Russia. However, this does not mean that there are no representatives of other ethnic groups among the ordinary participants of the movement and even its leaders. These facts are well reflected in a catch phrase “not all Pashtuns are Talibs, but almost all the Talibs are Pashtuns.” The problem of the Pashtuns, who have so far preserved a generally tribal structure, is complicated as they live not only in Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan. Moreover, in the first country they make up almost half of the population, while in the second — a minority, although the largest one. In addition, the number of Pakistani Pashtuns, who also, as a rule, identify themselves with tribes, and are still maintaining tribal traditions in the mountainous regions, is at least twice as large as the number of Pashtuns in Afghanistan. Based on these arguments, it is obvious that the topic raised in the article is of considerable importance for assessing the current situation in the two neighboring states and the prospects for its change.