Pashtun Americans

Americans of Pashtun birth or descent From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pashtun Americans (Pashto: د امريکا پښتانه) are Americans who are of Pashtun origin, an Eastern Iranian ethnic group originating from a region of Afghanistan and Pakistan[2] historically called Pashtunistan.[3]

Quick facts Total population, Regions with significant populations ...
Pashtun Americans
Total population
279,628 (2024)[1]
Regions with significant populations
New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Virginia, Los Angeles Texas, Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Languages
Pashto, American, English, Urdu, Dari Persian Hindko especially for Pashtuns from Hazara region and Chhachh)
Religion
Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Afghan diaspora, Pakistani diaspora, Indian Diaspora
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Demographics

US states with significant Pashtun populations, based on the 2000 Census. History The initial arrival of Pashtun immigrants to United States occurred in small numbers during the early 20th century, primary from border regions of British India (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan), driven by opportunities in trade, labor, and education. A Documented group of approximately 200 Pashtuns (also Known as Pathans) immigrants in 1920, settling in urban centers such as New York and California ports, where they engaged in merchant activities connected to global silk and spice trade networks. There early migrans were often from tribal backgrounds and formed informal support network in coastal cities to navigate the challenge of limited community infrastructure.[4]The immigration act of 1917 servaly curtailted further Pashtun immigration to by creating an Asiatic Barred Zone that encompassed South Asia, including Pashtun-inhabited areas, effectively restricting entry to lobarers, merchants, and students from these regions and resulting in fewer than a few hundred arrival through the 1940s, this legislation, combined with subsequent quotes under the 1924 immigration Act, limited the Pashtuns population in US to under 1,000 by mid- cuntury, with many early settlers facing exclusionary policies that barred naturalization for Asians. Pioneering Pashtun figures, such as traders linking Central Asia goods to America markets, exemplifies the small- scale, voluntary migration patterns before world war II , though specific profiles remine sparsely recorded due to the era's documentation biases.[5] There 400,000 Afghans in the US 50-60% are Pashtuns,[6] and 690,000 Pakistanis in US 20% are Pashtuns, There are more than 270,000-560,000 Pashtuns in the United States Pashtuns are part of Pakistani diaspora, Afghan diaspora and mainly Pashtuns from Indian diaspora, such as Pakistani Americans, Afghan Americans, Indian Americans, from 1950s to 1970s Largest Numbers of Pashtuns immigration to United States.[7]

Military

A small number of Pashtun Americans have served in the United States Armed Forces, in varying roles in the War in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Asad A. Khan, a Pakistani-American marine, was a member of one of the first conventional units to enter Afghanistan.[8] Khan would return to Afghanistan in command of the 1st Battalion 6th Marines in 2004; only to be later relieved of command.[9] Pfc. Usman Khattak, an ethnic Pashtun from northwest Pakistan, is a US Army Food Specialist with the 539th Transportation Division and is based at the US Army camp in Kuwait.[10]

Media

The Voice of America has a Pashto language service.[11]

Organizations

The Pakhtoon American Community Association (PACA) is a cultural association based in Maryland, which organizes an annual Pashto Conference, in addition to other events.[12][13] The Khyber Society, founded in 1986 in New York, also arranges cultural events.[14]

See also

References

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