Ancient period

“Awghan” (اوغان) is not a derogatory distortion of the word Afghan

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Some Pashtuns of Afghanistan (particularly the diaspora) get offended when Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras refer to them as Awghan (اوغان), thinking it is a derogatory distortion of the word Afghan.  But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it is Awghan which is original while Afghan might be its Arabic or Persian modification of … Read more

Afghans in Bactrian documents

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One of the earliest mentions of Afghan or Pashtun people occurs in the Bactrian documents of 5th century A.D. The Bactrian documents suggest the presence or activity of Afghans (Pashtuns) in or near Bactria region.   1- The town of Rob is identified as modern Rui, lying fifty miles south of Samangan in Northern Afghanistan.