Pathans of Gujarat

The Pathans arrived in Gujarat in the Middle Ages , as merchants and soldiers in the armies of various rulers of the region. It has been suggested that the earliest settlement of Pashtuns was during the 14th century, when military colonies were established.^[2]

The State of Junagadh or Junagarh was a princely state located in Gujarat. It had been ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty since 1654, first by Nawab of Junagadh within the Maratha Confederacy and later by British India. This princely family was of the Babai Pashtun tribe.

The term Kabuli literally means any inhabitant of the city of Kabul in Afghanistan. In Gujarat, the term was applied to any Pashtun who arrived in Gujarat during the 19th Century, the majority of whom were Ghilzais. Historically, the community were traders, buying horses from Kathiawar and selling them in Rajputana and Deccan. Though found across the region but mainly in Ahmedabad, they speak Hindi first as well as Gujarati. Some older members of the community can still speak Pashto. They form quite a distinct community.^[3]

• Salim Durrani, Afghan born Indian cricketer
• Parveen Babi, Indian Actress and model
• Irfan Pathan, Indian former cricketer turned analyst.
• Yusuf Pathan, Brother of Irfan Pathan and former Indian cricketer.

• Pashtun diaspora
• Rohilla
• Pathans of Uttar Pradesh
• Pathans of Punjab
• Khuda Gawah (Popular depictions of Pashtuns in Indian cinema)