Afghan افغان is used, since the foundation of the Afghan state in 1747, to indicate a citizen of Afghanistan. Though, mistakenly used for Pashtuns, it is no longer the reality. The fourth article of the Constitution of Afghanistan^[1] states that citizens of Afghanistan include Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, Aymaq, Arab, Baluch, Pashayi, Nuristani, Qezelbash, Brahui and Gurjar who are native inhabitants of the country and that all citizens of Afghanistan be called Afghans.

According to encyclopaedia Iranica,^[2] AFGHAN (afḡān) in current political usage means any citizen of Afghanistan, whatever his ethnic, tribal, or religious affiliation is. According to the 1977 constitution of the Republic of Afghanistan (1973–78), all Afghans are equal in rights and obligations before the law. In an attempt to alleviate the inevitable tensions and conflicts of an ethnically diverse state, the republic discouraged reference to ethnic or tribal origin and prohibited the use of personal names that evoke an ethnic group (such as Tajik, Hazara, Hindu, Sikh, Afrīdī, Aḥmadzay, Ōrmuṛ, Nūrzay, Pōpalzay, Wardak, etc.).

As an adjective, the word Afghan also means "of or relating to Afghanistan or its people, language, or culture".

Afghani[link]

The only time to use Afghani is in reference to the unit of Afghan currency. Some people use it to indicate a citizen of Afghanistan. From an Afghan point of view this name is wrongly being used for Afghans. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan millions of Afghans took refuge in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. The Pakistani, Irani and the international aid agencies coined this word to speak of Afghans.

See also[link]

• Demography of Afghanistan

References[link]