Taqin hat

The red-and-black patterned Hazara traditional Taqin hat

The Taqin hat (Dari: کلاه تاقین), also known as Mazari hat (Dari: کلاه مزاری) and Pashteen hat (Pashto: د پښتين خولۍ), is a red-and-black-patterned hat originating from northern Afghanistan. Originally associated with the Hazaras and Uzbeks of Afghanistan, the cap became popular amongst the Afghanistan–Pakistan border region and is now worn throughout Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan.

History

The Taqin hat originated in Mazar-i-Sharif or Sar-e Pol and was originally associated with the Hazara and Uzbeks of Afghanistan. It is commonly worn by Afghan Uzbeks throughout northern Afghanistan. Taqin also became prominent among the Tajik people of Badakhshan.

The hat gained popularity among many Pashtuns of Pakistan after 2018 because of the rise to prominence of Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who often wore it at public events and gatherings. The hat subsequently became a symbol of the PTM.

Taliban takeover in Afghanistan (2021–present)

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have been accused of restricting the Taqin hat. In August 2025, it was reported that the Taliban had taken these hats from locals and threatened anyone aligned with the PTM. In 2026, Taliban's minister of higher education Neda Mohammad Nadeem was accused of slapping an Uzbek student for wearing the Taqin hat. Neda rejected the accusations.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Balkhi (2019-06-22). "کاهش فروش کلاه اوزبیکی در بازاهای ولایت سرپل". |خبرگزاری شانا|Shana News Agency| (in Persian). Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 وطندار, سلام (2023-07-09). "صنعت کلاه‌‌دوزی در سرپل در حال نابودی قرار دارد". swn.af (in Persian). Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  3. ↑ Shah, Sadia Qasim (7 April 2018). "Mazari red cap orders increase ahead of PTM meet". Dawn. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "رونق بازار کلاه تاقین در بدخشان" [The booming market for the Taqin hat in Badakhshan]. Salam Watandar (in Persian). 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
  5. ↑ Alikozai, Hasib Danish (6 April 2018). "Hats Proliferate as Symbol of Pashtun Protest Movement". Voice of America. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 محمدی, حبیب (2025-08-11). "منابع: تی‌تی‌پی و طالبان در پکتیا کلاه جنبش تحفظ پشتون‌ها را جمع‌آوری می‌کنند". تلویزیون آمو (in Persian). Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  7. 1 2 ۸صبح (2026-04-08). "وزیر تحصیلات عالی طالبان دانشجویان اوزبیک را به‌دلیل داشتن «کلاه سرخ» تهدید کرده است". روزنامه ۸صبح (in Dari). Retrieved 2026-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)