Ahmadzai (Ghilji clan)

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The Ahmadzai (Pashto: احمدزی) is a Pashtun tribe of the Ghilji confederacy. As their influence grew, this original subtribe of Sulaimankhel got recognition as a tribe of its own^[1] and are considered to be good leaders and fighters, also lauded for their knowledge of Pushtunwali.^[2] The Ahmadzai homelands are primarily in the historic Loya Paktia^[2] (modern Paktia, Paktika, and Khost provinces), but they can be found in many places between Logar to Jalalabad.^[3] Due to the history of deportations, pockets of Ahmadzai can also be found in Kunduz, Baghlan, and Balkh provinces.^[2]

Among all of Ghilsais, Ahmadzai is the tribe that is politically closest to Durrani, the traditional rulers in Kabul, and had received from the latter the posts of military commanders and governors,^[1] unlike the rest of Ghilsai who are mostly opposed to the central government.^[4] Generally, Ahmadzai can be found among the leaders on both sides of Afghan political divides: for example, during the Soviet-Afghan war some tribesmen were serving as officers in the army, others were manning the mujahideen groups.^[2] A large portion of the tribe live as Kochi nomads.^[3] Khels of Ghilzai Ahmadzai are Babakar khel, Isa Khel, Jabbarkhel, Maruf Khel, Musa Khel, Zandak Khel, Ya Khel.^[3] Of these, Jabbarkhel is considered one of the most powerful khels, the "aristocrats" (khanan). A subgroup of Jabbarkhel, the Arsala khel, hailing from the Hisarak district on Nangahar province, was known as "resistance royalty" in the 1980s.^[2]

Ahmadzai Pashtun tribe is a Powindah tribe and are traditional nomadic merchant warriors. They are considered^{[by whom?]} as the pioneers of trade among other Powindah merchant tribes.

The former Afghan presidents Ashraf Ghani (2014–2021) and Mohammad Najibullah (1987–1992) belonged to the Ahmadzai tribe (the former had dropped his tribal name after his election in 2014).^[5]