Alakozai

Alakozai (Pashto: الکوزی - meaning descendant of Alako in Pashto) is a Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan. They are, by a wide margin, the wealthiest of the four clans comprising the Zirak confederacy of Durrani Pashtuns. This concentrated affluence has allowed them to institutionalize generational wealth, effectively consolidating political influence and economic dominance over neighboring clans for generations.Giustozzi, Antonio (2012). Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field (Reprinted ed.). Hurst Publishers. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-84904-226-0.International Encyclopaedia of Islamic Dynasties; by Nagendra Kumar Singh; Published by Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., 2000; ISBN 978-81-261-0403-1

Variations

Spelling variations include Alakozi, Alakoozi, Alekozai, Alekuzei, Alikozai, Alokozay, Alkozai, Alucozai, Alakozay, Hulakozai, Alecozay, Alikuzi, Alakuzei, Alkozay, and Alakoozai

History

Predigree of King Dost Mohammad Khan of Afghanistan, whose stepmother was an Alakozai. The figure shows the branching of the Abdal dynasty into the Popal (founder of the Popalzai; in figure spelled 'Fofal'), Barak (founder of the alikzai), and Alako (founder of the Alakozai) line (the fourth branch, Achakzai, is missing).

Their eponymous ancestor is claimed to be the powerful Alako, son of King Zirak Khan, son of Abdal, son of Tareen.

Distribution

The Alkozay people are found primarily in Helmand, Kandahar, Kabul, Laghman, Kunar Sarkani District and Herat provinces in Afghanistan, and form the majority of the population in the Sangin District. Jaldak, which is located 110 km northeast of Kandahar, is the original domicile of the Alkozay tribe. The Alkozay people stretch from Farah to Kandahar, and constitute a majority in the Arghandab District of Kandahar. The Arghandab district was given to the Alkozay tribe by King Nadir Shah, who brought down the Safavid empire of Persia with the help of the Alkozay in 1738. Arghandab was referred to by the Greek historians as Alkozay, or the "Land of Arako/Alako".

Notable individuals

Manuscript painting of Abdullah Khan Alkozai surrounded by courtiers, Kashmir, 1798

See also


References

  1. ↑ State and tribe in nineteenth-century Afghanistan: the reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863); by Christine Noelle, Christine Noelle-Karimi; Published by Routledge, 1997; ISBN 978-0-7007-0629-7; p. 384-385
  2. ↑ The Hidden treasure: a biography of Pahtoon poets; by Muḥammad Hōtak, ʻAbd al-Ḥayy Ḥabībī, Abdul Hay Habibi, Khushal Habibi; Translated by Khushal Habibi; Published by Rowman & Littlefield, 1997; ISBN 978-0-7618-0265-5; p. 193
  3. ↑ People of Ghazni, Program for Culture & Conflict Studies
  4. 1 2 Chayes, Sarah (2007-11-18). "A Mullah Dies, and War Comes Knocking". The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  5. ↑ Afghanistan, Volumes 25-26 By Anjuman-i Tārīkh-i Afghānistān
  6. ↑ The Khyber Gateway Alkozay[link removed]
  7. ↑ "Mullah Naqib - Losing an Ally". CBC.ca. 2007-10-15. Retrieved on 2008-07-03.
  8. ↑ Introduction about Ahmad Shah Baba's Life
  9. ↑ The Kingdom of Afghanistan; George Passman Tate; Asian Educational Services, 2001; ISBN 978-81-206-1586-1; p. 64
  10. ↑ The Kingdom of Afghanistan; George Passman Tate; Asian Educational Services, 2001; ISBN 978-81-206-1586-1; p. 58
  11. 1 2 Kashmir: A Wailing Valley; M. L. Gupta; Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., 2001; ISBN 978-81-261-0951-7; p. 65
  12. ↑ The Kingdom of Afghanistan: a historical sketch; by G. P. Tate; Published by Asian Educational Services, 2001; ISBN 978-81-206-1586-1; p. 106
  13. ↑ International Encyclopedia of Islamic Dynasties, Vol. 2 Afghanistan; Nagendra Kr. Singh; Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., 2000; ISBN 978-81-261-0403-1; p. 339
  14. ↑ Catalogue of Coins in the Panjab Museum, Lahore; Lahore Museum; Richard Bertram Whitehead; 1934, p. 29
  15. ↑ Dictionary of Indian Biography; by Charles Edward Buckland; Published by S. Sonnenschein, 1906; p. 228
  16. 1 2 Christine Noelle-Karimi (2014). The Pearl In Its Midst By Christine Noelle Karimi.
  17. ↑ State and Tribe in Nineteenth-Century Afghanistan: The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863): The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-63) (page 4)
  18. ↑ Life of the amir Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul: with his political proceedings towards the English, Russian and Persian governments, including the victory and disasters of the British army in Afghanistan. By Mohan Lal, 1846; p. 22
  19. ↑ Swarup, Shubhangi (29 January 2011). "The Kingdom of Khan". OPEN. Retrieved 17 July 2014. Salim Khan, scriptwriter and father of Salman Khan remembers the Afghan tribe his family historically belongs to. "It is Alakozai," he says. "My family came to Indore 150 years ago, and worked as [part of the] cavalry in the time of the British." Khan is a fifth-generation Khan in India.
  20. ↑ "Khans in Bollywood: Afghan traces their Pathan roots". Deccan Herald. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Afghan traces Bolly Khans' Pathan roots". Mid-Day. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  22. ↑ Kakaron, Javed Hamim (25 December 2011). "Khans in Bollywood book published". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  23. ↑ Jasim Khan 2015, pp. 34, 35, 37, 38–: "Superstar Salman Khan is a Pashtun from the Akuzai clan...One has to travel roughly forty-five kilometers from Mingora towards Peshawar to reach the nondescript town of Malakand. This is the place where the forebears of Salman Khan once lived. They belonged to the Akuzai clan of the Pashtun tribe..."
  24. ↑ Jasim Khan 2015: Salman Khan's grandfather Abdul Rashid Khan followed his family's legacy by being recruited to the police department of the Indore state. He started from the rank of DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) and eventually attained to the post of DIG (Deputy Inspector General). He was also awarded the prestigious Diler Jung award of the Holkar times.

Sources