Sarbans
Encyclopedia
Sarbans or Sarbani are the largest tribal group of Pashtuns
. They are situated in Afghanistan
and Pakistan
. The Sarbans include many Pashtun tribes, among whom the most numerous are the Durrani
, Tareen
and Miani
tribes.
, who was one of the sons of Qais Abdur Rashid
, the common ancestor of the Pashtun people.
The name itself is similar (or identical) with the name of an historical tribe on Caucasus
that was also named Sarbani
(the Caucasian tribe was recorded under this name in the 10th century). According to some opinions, these Caucasian Sarbani are identified with Serbs
(whose Sarmatian / Iranian origin is also suggested by some researchers). Pashtuns are believed to be of partial Scythian descent and Sarmatian language is also grouped within Scythian branch.
and Pakistan
in the 5th-6th centuries AD, as well as with Scythians, who are known to have settled where most of Pashtuns live today.
The Durrani Empire
that existed in the 18th-19th centuries and that was centered in the territory of present-day Afghanistan
was founded by the Ahmad Shah Durrani
, an Afghan
military commander under Nader Shah of Persia
and chief of the Abdali
Sarban tribe. Since that time, the Abdali tribe is known as Durrani
.
, Sarbans mainly inhabiting western part of the country, notably the provinces of Kandahar
, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz, Farah
, Herat
, Badghis, and Balkh
, as well as provinces Nangarhar and Kunar
in the eastern part. In Pakistan
, Sarbans are situated in the northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas
regions, as well as in the northern part of Balochistan
.
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
. They are situated in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The Sarbans include many Pashtun tribes, among whom the most numerous are the Durrani
Durrani
Durrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali later as Durrani they have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16%...
, Tareen
Tareen
The Tareen are a prominent Sarbanri Pashtun tribe residing in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. They are one of the largest Pashtun tribes.-History:...
and Miani
Miani
Miani or Meeanee is a village in Sindh, Pakistan, six miles north of Hyderabad. It was the site of the battle of Miani, 17 February 1843, in which Sir Charles Napier defeated the ruler of Sindh and made it part of British India....
tribes.
Name origin
According to legend, the Sarbans are descendants of SarbanSarban
Abdul-Rahim Sārbān , known simply as Sarban, was a singer from Kabul, Afghanistan. He was born in Kabul an old area called to rice verdure father and stay home mother. He is known for his unique voice and music style that no other singer from Afghanistan has been able to imitate...
, who was one of the sons of Qais Abdur Rashid
Qais Abdur Rashid
Qais Abdur Rashid Khan , also known as Kesh, Kish, Qesh and Imraul Qais is a legendary ancestor of the Pashtun race, claimed to be the first ethnic Pashtun who travelled to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia during the early days of Islam.) He is believed to be the 37th descendent of King Saul .He...
, the common ancestor of the Pashtun people.
The name itself is similar (or identical) with the name of an historical tribe on Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
that was also named Sarbani
Serboi
Serboi or Serbi is an ethnonym recorded in Greco-Roman ethnography. It designated a tribe dwelling in Asiatic Sarmatia , probably on the Lower Volga River.-Original appearances in Caucasus:...
(the Caucasian tribe was recorded under this name in the 10th century). According to some opinions, these Caucasian Sarbani are identified with Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
(whose Sarmatian / Iranian origin is also suggested by some researchers). Pashtuns are believed to be of partial Scythian descent and Sarmatian language is also grouped within Scythian branch.
History
The origin of the Sarbans, might be connected with Hephthalites, who had a large nomadic confederation that included present-day AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in the 5th-6th centuries AD, as well as with Scythians, who are known to have settled where most of Pashtuns live today.
The Durrani Empire
Durrani Empire
The Durrani Empire was a Pashtun dynasty centered in Afghanistan and included northeastern Iran, the Kashmir region, the modern state of Pakistan, and northwestern India. It was established at Kandahar in 1747 by Ahmad Shah Durrani, an Afghan military commander under Nader Shah of Persia and chief...
that existed in the 18th-19th centuries and that was centered in the territory of present-day Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
was founded by the Ahmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shah Durrani , also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī and born as Ahmad Khān, was the founder of the Durrani Empire in 1747 and is regarded by many to be the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.Ahmad Khan enlisted as a young soldier in the military of the Afsharid kingdom and quickly rose...
, an Afghan
Afghan
Afghan may refer to:* The country of Afghanistan, as abbreviated in reports as Afghan, or Afg.* Someone or something related to Afghanistan, see also Demography of Afghanistan* Afghan cuisine...
military commander under Nader Shah of Persia
Nader Shah
Nāder Shāh Afshār ruled as Shah of Iran and was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty. Because of his military genius, some historians have described him as the Napoleon of Persia or the Second Alexander...
and chief of the Abdali
Abdali
Abdali may refer to:* Abdali Urban Regeneration Project, district in Amman, Jordan* Durrani, one of the two largest Pashtun tribes of Afghanistan and Pakistan* Ahmed Shah Abdali, founder of the Durrani Empire...
Sarban tribe. Since that time, the Abdali tribe is known as Durrani
Durrani
Durrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali later as Durrani they have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16%...
.
Geographic distribution
In AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Sarbans mainly inhabiting western part of the country, notably the provinces of Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz, Farah
Farah
-Given name:* Farah Pahlavi , née Dibah, the last Empress of Iran* Farah , a Bollywood actress of 80s* Farah Hussain, Pakistani actress and presenter* Farah Khan, Indian choreographer and director...
, Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, Badghis, and Balkh
Balkh
Balkh , was an ancient city and centre of Zoroastrianism in what is now northern Afghanistan. Today it is a small town in the province of Balkh, about 20 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Mazar-e Sharif, and some south of the Amu Darya. It was one of the major cities of Khorasan...
, as well as provinces Nangarhar and Kunar
Kunar
Kunar may refer to:*Kunar Valley, Afghanistan and Pakistan*Kunar Province, Afghanistan*Kunar River, Afghanistan and Pakistan...
in the eastern part. In Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Sarbans are situated in the northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs...
regions, as well as in the northern part of Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
.
Sarbanri Tribes
There are 105 Sarbani tribes, including:- BabarBabar (tribe)The Babar tribe is a Pakhtun tribe descending from Sarban, a son of Qais Abdur Rashid along with other tribes such as the Yusafzais, Tareens, Durranis and Mohmands....
- DurraniDurraniDurrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali later as Durrani they have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16%...
- KasiKasi tribeThe Kasi are a Pashtun tribe, primarily found in the Pakistani city of Quetta, as well as in Iran, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.-The Pashtun family tree:...
- KhalilKhalilAl-Malik al-Ashraf Salāh al-Dīn Khalil ibn Qalawūn ; was the eighth Mamluk sultan of Egypt from 1290 until his assassination in December, 1293...
- MianiMianiMiani or Meeanee is a village in Sindh, Pakistan, six miles north of Hyderabad. It was the site of the battle of Miani, 17 February 1843, in which Sir Charles Napier defeated the ruler of Sindh and made it part of British India....
- MohmandMohmandThe Mohmand are a clan of Sarban Pashtuns, living primarily in the FATA & Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan & northeastern Afghanistan.- Demographics :...
- Sherani
- ShilmaniShilmaniThe Shilmani or Shalmani شلمانى are a Sarbanri Pashtun tribe who are primarily concentrated in the Shalman valley in Khyber agency near Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, the tribe is also present in different areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.In Pakistan, they live in Swat, Upper...
- TareenTareenThe Tareen are a prominent Sarbanri Pashtun tribe residing in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. They are one of the largest Pashtun tribes.-History:...
- Urmar
- Yusufzai
