List of Pashtuns

Pashtuns, also known as Pakhtuns or Afghans, are an ethnic group that inhabit the Pashtunistan region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are one of the most populous ethnic groups in both countries. There is a significant Pashtuns diaspora in neighbouring countries such as Iran and India.

Pashtuns are traditionally organised into tribal divisions, and their society is defined by the Pashtunwali, the traditional code by which they live. It is extremely important in the social structure and interactions of the Pashtun tribes.

There are more than 350–400 Pashtun tribes making Pashtuns the world's largest segmentary lineage society.

Rulers and generals

 * Bahlul Lodi – founder of Lodi Dynasty (reigned 1451–1489), most powerful of the Pashtun chiefs, who replaced the last king of the Sayyid dynasty in 1451
 * Sikandar Lodi – Sultan of Delhi
 * Ibrahim Lodi – Sultan of Delhi Lodi Dynasty Reign 1517 – 21 April 1526
 * Sher Shah Suri – Sultan of the Suri Empire Reign 17 May 1540 – 22 May 1545
 * Adil Shah Suri – Sultan of the Suri Empire
 * Islam Shah Suri – Sultan of the Suri Empire Reign 27 May 1545 – 22 November 1554
 * Firuz Shah Suri – Firuz Shah Suri
 * Muhammad Adil Shah
 * Ibrahim Shah Suri – Sultan of the Suri Empire
 * Sikandar Shah Suri – Sultan of the Suri Empire
 * Abdur Rahman Khan – monarch of Afghanistan in the late 19th century
 * Ahmad Shah Durrani – founding father of Afghanistan
 * Abdul Aziz Hotak – second ruler of the Afghan Hotaki dynasty
 * Akbar Khan – Emir of Afghanistan
 * Amanullah Khan – Ghazi of the Third Anglo-Afghan War and King of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929
 * Amir Khan – Nawab of Tonk
 * Ashraf Hotaki – Shah of Persia from 1725 to 1729 and fourth ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
 * Ayub Shah – Afghan king
 * Azim Khan Barakzai – Barakzai noble and governor of Kashmir
 * Azad Khan Afghan – Pashtun who was a major contender for Supremacy in ruling Persia
 * Daud Khan Panni – Mughal general
 * Alauddin Khalji – second Ruler of Khalji dynasty
 * Daud Khan Rohilla
 * Daulat Khan Lodi
 * Diler Khan – 17th century Mughal general
 * Dost Muhammad of Bhopal – Nawab of Bhopal
 * Dost Mohammad Khan – monarch of Afghanistan in the 19th century
 * Habibullah Khan – King/Emir of Afghanistan
 * Haibat Khan Niazi – Commander of Niazi contingent of Sher Shah Suri's army and Governor of Punjab
 * Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech – Rohilla Chieftain
 * Hamid Khan Lodi – founder of Lodi dynasty of Multan after the end of Arab rule in 961 A.D
 * Hamidullah Khan – last Nawab of former Bhopal state in India
 * Hussain Hotaki – last ruler of the Hotaki dynasty at Kandahār
 * Inayatullah Khan – Afghan king
 * Isa Khan Niazi – Masnad-e-Aali in reign of Sher Shah Suri shafqat zaman
 * Khawas Khan Marwat – general of Sher Shah Suri
 * Khushal Khan Khattak – Pahtun chief
 * Mahmud Hotaki – Shah of Persia from 1722 to 1725 and third ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
 * Mahmud Shah Durrani – monarch of Afghanistan in the 18th century
 * Mirwais Hotak – founder of the Afghan Hotaki dynasty in Kandahār
 * Mohammad Akbar Khan – Afghan prince and warrior
 * Bakht Khan – revolutionary Chief against British Imperialism, commander of the rebel mutiny force in the city of Delhi during the Indian War of Independence
 * Mohammad Ayub Khan – Afghan Royal Prince and Emir of Afghanistan, fondly remembered as the Victor of Maiwand
 * Muhammad Habib Khan Tarin – Nawab, chieftain and cavalry officer
 * Muhammad Khan Bangash – founder of Farrukhabad state in the early 18th century
 * Mohammad Nadir Shah – King of Afghanistan from 1929 to 1933
 * Mohammad Yaqub Khan – monarch of Afghanistan in the late 19th century
 * Mohammed Zahir Shah – last king of Afghanistan, reigned for 40 years
 * Muhammad Mahabat Khan III – last Nawab of Junagarh (defunct title)
 * Najabat Khan – Pashtun Nawab
 * Najib Khan Yousafzai – Nawab of Rohilla, instrumental in Afghan Victory at Panipat in 1761, inflicting the largest number of fatalities in a classic formation between two armies
 * Nasrullah Khan – Shahzada Crown Prince of Afghanistan
 * Nawab Muzaffar Khan – Durrani Nawab of Multan
 * Shah Shujah Durrani (Sadozai) – former king of Afghanistan
 * Sher Shah Sur – Afghan king of India and founder of the Sur Empire
 * Timur Shah Durrani – monarch of Afghanistan, second ruler of the Durrani Empire
 * Zabita Khan – Rohilla chieftain
 * Zain Khan Sirhindi – Durrani general
 * Zaman Shah Durrani – monarch of Afghanistan
 * Khwaja Usman
 * Hakim Khan Sur – Army General of Maharana Pratap in Battle of Haldighati
 * Malak Ahmad Khan Yusufzai – First ruler and founder of Modern-day Pashtunkhwa
 * Gaju Khan Yousafzai – revolutionary leader, second ruler of modern day Pakhtunkhawa who once served under Sher Shah Sur
 * Kalu Khan Yusufzai – Afghan warrior and military leader in 16th Century who inflicted one of the greatest defeats of the Mughal Empire in the Battle of the Malandari Pass (1586)
 * Sartor Faqir – Pashtun tribal Yusufzai leader and freedom fighter; declared a jihad against the British Empire, unsuccessfully in 1895, then successfully in 1897

Afghanistan

 * Farhad Darya (Afghanistan) – Afghan singer and composer, known for his contributions to Afghan music.

Pakistan

 * Abdul Ghani Khan (Pakistan) – Pashto poet, writer, philosopher, and artist


 * Sardar Ali Takkar (Pakistan/Afghanistan) – popular sufist Pashto singer.


 * Rahim Shah (Pakistan) – popular Pashto and Urdu singer
 * Khyal Muhammad (Pakistan) – prominent Pashto folk singer
 * Gulzar Alam (Pakistan) – Pashto singer and music composer
 * Gul Panra (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto female singer
 * Zeb Bangash (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto folk singer
 * Zeek Afridi (Pakistan) – Urdu-Pashto folk singer
 * Badar Munir (Pakistan) – Pashto Film former actor
 * Kushhal Khan (Pakistan) – Pashto model and actor
 * ( Kifayat Shah Bacha (Foke Singer) Pashto singer.

United Kingdom

 * M Huncho (Afghan-British) – Afghan-British rapper and singer from London.

Afghanistan

 * Kabir Stori, Pashtun nationalist writer and poet who founded and served as chairman of the Pashtuns Social Democratic Party (PSDP)

Pakistan

 * Khan Abdul Ghani Khan – Pashto poet, philosopher, and writer
 * Hamza Shinwari – Pashto poet and writer known for his romantic poetry
 * Ajmal Khattak – Pashto poet, writer, and politician
 * Khushal Khan Khattak – Pashto poet, warrior, and tribal chief from the 17th century
 * Rahman Baba – Pashto poet and Sufi saint
 * Abaseen Yousafzai – Pashto poet known for his modernist poetry
 * Hafiz Alpuri – Pashto Poet
 * Khatir Afridi – Pashto poet and writer
 * Malala Yousafzai – Pashto writer, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Suriname

 * Munshi Rahman Khan – poet, writer, teacher and former indentured labourer.

Afghanistan

 * Abdul Ahad Momand (Afghanistan) – 4th Muslim astronaut who visited Space and first Muslim in the entire world who bring Quran to the moon. Due to Abdul Ahad Momand, Islam is now the 4th religion practiced in space. He spoke Pashto in space so Pashto is the 4th language spoken in the space.

Pakistan

 * Jahangir Khan (Pakistan) – Pakistani tourist who became the first Pashtun and the second Pakistani to fly around the world in commercial aircraft.
 * Hakeemullah Khan Durrani (Pakistan) – Former Pakistani Air Marshal and Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force.

Architects

 * Sharif Fayez – Afghan architect and urban planner who has contributed to the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
 * Hayatullah Khan Durrani – Afghan architect and urban planner who has played a vital role in the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Businessman

 * Afghanistan
 * Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman. He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.
 * Pakistan


 * Javed Afridi – Pakistani business tycoon, Owner of Peshawar Zalmi.
 * Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan (Pakistan) – Pakistani businesswoman.

Pakistan

 * Safwat Ghayur – Commandant Frontier Constabulary who embraced martyrdom on Pakistan's War on Terrorism.
 * Nasir Durrani – Inspector General of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police.
 * Masood Sharif Khan Khattak – Director-General Intelligence Bureau
 * Salahuddin Khan Mehsud – Chief of Terrorism Department
 * Moazzam Jah Ansari – Commandment Frontier Constabulary
 * Muhammad Naeem Khan – Inspector General of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police
 * Akbar Khan Hoti – Director-General Federal Investigation Agency.
 * Akhtar Ali Shah – Commandant National Police Academy of Pakistan and Inspector General of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police
 * Azam Khan – Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
 * Shehzad Khan Bangash – Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federal Secretary of Pakistan
 * Shehzad Arbab – Establishment Secretary of Pakistan
 * Saeed Wazir – Inspector-General of Gilgit-Baltistan Police
 * Aftab Durrani – Interior Secretary of Pakistan
 * Dil Jan Khan Marwat – Commandant Frontier Constabulary
 * Roedad Khan – Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and diplomat played a key role during Cold war
 * Rustam Shah Mohmand, Chief Secretary of N.W.F.P, Diplomat, commissioner for Afghan Refugees and ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan
 * Sartaj Aziz – National Security Advisor
 * Mahmud Ali Durrani – National Security Advisor
 * Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Federal Minister and twice elected MPA of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
 * Asif Durrani – Pakistani diplomat of Foreign Service of Pakistan served as envoy to Iran and Afghanistan
 * Shahryar Khan – Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board
 * Aziz Ahmed Khan – Pakistani diplomat of Foreign Service of Pakistan served as ambassador to India
 * Yusuf Khattak – Pakistani left-wing intellectual Politician, Pakistan Movement Activist, Federal Minister and statesman who represented Pakistan internationally
 * Aslam Khattak – Pakistani diplomat and former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, served as envoy to Afghanistan
 * Mian Gul Akbar Zeb – Pakistani diplomat of Foreign Service of Pakistan served as ambassador to Canada
 * Mohammed Sadiq – Pakistani diplomat of Foreign Service of Pakistan, served as Special Representative of Pakistan to Afghanistan

Afghanistan

 * Ghulam Sediq Wardak (Afghanistan) – Pashtun inventor who is known for more than 344 inventions
 * Jamal al-Din al-Afghani – one of the founders of Islamic Modernism, as well as an advocate of Pan-Islamic unity in India against the British.
 * Zemaryalai Tarzi – Pashtun archeologist
 * Daud Shah Saba – Ethnic Afghan (Pashtun) geologist
 * Mohammad Qayoumi – 28th president of San Jose State University and 4th president of California State University, East Bay; also a well known engineer by occupation
 * Suleman Khan ZADRAN – Scientist at Università di Bologna Known as the first Afghan national scientist holding Doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology with expertise in Molecular and Epigenetic mechanisms of cancers, Nanomedicine, Biosensor, Chemical and Synthetic Biology as well as the Advanced molecular techniques for the Manipulation of M13 Filamentous Phage against Neuroblastoma.

Pakistan

 * Munir Ahmed Khan (Pakistan) – Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission who played a crucial role in Pakistan' Nuclear Programme
 * Abdul Qadeer Khan (Pakistan) – Pakistani nuclear scientist known for his pivotal role in Pakistan's nuclear program
 * Ziauddin Sardar (Pakistan) – scientist and author of more than 50 books
 * Monowar Khan Afridi – Pakistani military general and malariologist and Vice-Chancellor of University of Peshawar

India

 * Madhubala; Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi – cinema superstar of India, she starred in over 60 films in the span of 20 years including the epic Mughal-e-Azam, the highest-grossing film in India's history
 * Shah Rukh Khan - Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films, According to Khan his paternal grandfather, was an ethnic Pashtun from Afghanistan.
 * Parveen Babi – Indian actress and model known for being the first Bollywood star to appear on the cover of Time magazine. She hailed from the Babi dynasty.
 * Amjad Khan – Indian actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character Gabbar Singh in the film "Sholay." He belonged to a Pashtun family.
 * Kader Khan - Indian actor, screenwriter and film producer. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and is an ethnic Pashtun of the Kakar tribe.
 * Zareen Khan – Indian actress who made her debut in Bollywood. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
 * Aamir Khan – famous Bollywood actor, his family has roots from Herat in Afghanistan, he belongs to the Khan-Hussain family.
 * Salman Khan – famous Bollywood actor, he belongs to the Salim Khan family.
 * Arbaaz Khan – Indian actor, film producer, and director. He is of Pathan descent and the brother of Salman Khan.
 * Saif Ali Khan - actor and film producer who primarily works in Hindi films. He belongs to the Pataudi family.
 * Soha Ali Khan – actress of Pataudi Royalty, she is the younger sister of Saif Ali Khan.
 * Sara Ali Khan – actress from the Pataudi family, she is the daughter of Saif Ali Khan.
 * Naseeruddin Shah - Indian actor, who is a descendant of Afghan warlord Jan-Fishan Khan.
 * Irrfan Khan - Indian actor, who belongs to a family of Pathan ancestry.

Pakistan

 * Nazir Ahmed Khan – Nazir Ahmed Khan, renowned director, actor, producer, filmmaker, pioneer and founding father of Pakistan Film Industry post partition. He was also one of the pioneers of the pre-partition Sub Continental Film Industry starting from Calcutta and spanning to Bombay and Lahore.
 * Adeeb – Pakistani film actor. He appeared in 38 Indian films from 1940 to 1962, although he did not start performing in films very actively until the 1950s
 * Mahira Khan – Pakistani actress known for her roles in Pakistani and Indian films. She has Pashtun ancestry from her father's side.
 * Neelam Muneer – Pakistani actress from Mardan
 * Fawad Khan – Pakistani actor born into Pashtun family
 * Kushhal Khan – Pakistani actor from Nowshera, Descendant of Kushal Baba
 * Laila Khan – Pashto singer from Peshawar
 * Bilal Abbas Khan – Pakistani actor
 * Feroze Khan – Pakistani actor

Afghanistan

 * Mina Mangal (1992 to 2019) journalist, political advisor, and women's rights activist who was killed by gunfire in 2019 in uncertain circumstances
 * Najiba Ayubi – Afghan journalist and women's rights advocate, known for her work in promoting press freedom and advocating for women's rights.
 * Sami Yousafzai – Afghan journalist
 * Sana Safi BBC World Service journalis
 * Ezatullah Zawab is a journalist from Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Pakistan

 * Rahimullah Yusufzai – Pakistani journalist and expert on Afghan affairs, known for his reporting on the region.
 * Saleem Safi – Pakistani journalist, columnist, and television anchor, specializing in political analysis and current affairs.
 * Nasim Zehra – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her expertise in political analysis and foreign affairs.
 * Asma Shirazi – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for her work in political journalism and interviewing prominent figures.
 * Iftikhar Ahmad – Pakistani journalist and television anchor, known for his talk show focused on political and social issues.
 * Wajahat Saeed Khan – Pakistani journalist, news anchor and defence analyst.

Afghanistan

 * Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai – Afghan former politician, academic, and economist who served as the president of Afghanistan from September 2014 until August 2021, when his government was overthrown by the Taliban.
 * Mohammad Sarwar Ahmedzai, Afghan presidential candidate and deputy national security advisor
 * Pacha Gul Wafadar, Afghanistan's Ambassador to Bulgaria under Sirdar Dawood
 * Ghulam Hassan Safi, prominent Afghan politician and diplomat in the 1960s
 * Fazal Hadi Shinwari, Chief Justice of Afghanistan
 * Suhail Shaheen, prolific writer, editor and Head of the Political Office

Pakistan

 * Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
 * Gohar Ali Khan, Pakistani lawyer and politician, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) since 2 December 2023
 * Abdur Rab Nishtar, one of the founding fathers of the Pakistan from Peshawar, played a key role during the Pakistan Movement
 * Abdul Qayyum Khan, prominent figure of All India Muslim league who played a role in the merger of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Pakistan
 * Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar – Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan
 * Zartaj Guj, first woman Climate Minister in the world, hails from Waziristan
 * Siraj-ul-Haq, 5th Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami and ex-Minister of Finance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
 * Shehryar Afridi, Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan from Kohat
 * Sania Nishtar, prominent Pakistani technocrat, author, doctor and politician from Peshawar served as Federal Minister for the Poverty Alleviation
 * Qasim Khan Suri, 19th Deputy Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan belonging to Suri tribe of Quetta
 * Pervez Khattak, Federal Defence Minister of Pakistan from Nowshera
 * Omar Ayub Khan, Federal Minister of Energy of Pakistan from Haripur
 * Murad Saeed, Federal Communication Minister of Pakistan from Swat
 * Mufti Shakoor, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs of Pakistan from Lakki Marwat
 * Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Deputy Chairman of Senate of Pakistan
 * Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Pakistan
 * Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan, 1st chief minister of West Pakistan
 * Habibullah Khan Marwat, 1st chairman of Senate of Pakistan
 * Gohar Ayub Khan, 1st speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
 * Ghulam Faruque Khan, Governor of East Pakistan and business tycoon of Pakistan
 * Azam Khan Swati, Federal Minister for the Railways of Pakistan from Mardan
 * Fazal Ur Rehman, Emir of Jamiat-Ulema-Islam(F) and leader of Pakistan Democratic Movement from Tank
 * Mufti Asad Mehmood, Federal Communication Minister of Pakistan and Deputy leader of JUIF
 * Ali Muhammad Khan, Federal Parliamentary Minister of Pakistan from Mardan
 * Akram Khan Durrani, former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Ex Federal Minister for Housing and Works from Bannu
 * Ali Amin Gandapur, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs of Pakistan from Dera Islmail Khan
 * Aimal Wali Khan, President of Pakistan's Awami National Party
 * Abdul Haq Akorwi (Pakistan), Prominent political leader, Mujahid during Soviet Afghan war and a teacher from Akora Khattak
 * Abdul Majeed Khan Achakzai (Pakistan), Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
 * Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai (Pakistan), freedom fighter and one of the well known politician from Balochistan
 * Khalilur Rehman, Deputy Chairman of Senate
 * Daud Khan Achakzai (Pakistan), chairperson of senate committee on communication and member of Senate Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Law and Justice, Defence Production, Select Committee from Awami National Party (ANP)
 * Hamid Khan Achakzai, Pakistani politician from Balochistan affiliated with the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
 * Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Pakistani Pashtun regionalist politician who is the Chairman of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
 * Ameer Muqam, President of PMLN Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
 * Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Pakistani politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Balochistan
 * Noor Jehan Panezai, first woman Deputy Chairman of Senate of Pakistan
 * Afzal Bangash, Marxist politician, activist and co-founder of the Mazdoor Kisan Party (MKP)
 * Abdul Aziz Khan Kaka, member of the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement from Zaida Kallay, Swabi who defeated the Imperial Crown's Political Agent, Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan in the elections of 1936 and following the inception of Pakistan he spent a total 21 years of imprisonment for "political crimes" and eventually joined the National Awami Party where he was elected in 1970 to the provincial legislature as a representative of the NAP
 * Sardar Abd-ur Rashid Khan, Member of Pakistan Muslim League, Chief Minister of North-Western Province
 * Sardar Bahadur Khan, Member of Pakistan Muslim League Chief Minister of North-Western Province
 * Mufti Mehmood, Emir of Jamat Ulema-e-Islam and Chief Minister of North-Western Province.
 * Sardar Inayatullah Khan Gandapur – Chief of Gandapur tribe, prominent member of Pakistan People's Party served as Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Federal Minister of Finance
 * Nasrullah Khan Khattak, Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 * Aftab Khan Sherpao, Chairman Quami Watan Party, Federal Minister of Interior of Pakistan
 * Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 * Gul Muhammad Khan Jogezai, Governor of Balochistan
 * Gohar Ali Khan, President of PTI
 * Miangul Aurangzeb, Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 * Syed Fazal Agha, 19th Deputy Chairman of Senate
 * Owais Ahmed Ghani, Federal Minister of Climate
 * Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, Governor of Balochistan
 * Kamran Khan Bangash, Pakistani politician served as Provincial Minister for Higher Education Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 * Shahram Khan, Provincial Minister of Local Government
 * Shah Farman, Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
 * Hisham Inamullah Khan, Provincial Minister of Health
 * Atif Khan, Provincial Minister of Tourism
 * Ziaullah Bangash, Provincial Minister of Primary Education
 * Akbar Ayub Khan, Provincial Minister of Works
 * Muhibullah Khan, Provincial Minister of Agriculture
 * Qalandar Khan Lodhi, Provincial Minister of Food
 * Amjad Ali, Provincial Minister of Mines and Minerals
 * Syed Muhammad Ishtiaq, Provincial Minister of Environment
 * Amjad Ali Khan Niazi, Chairman Standing Parliamentary Committee for Defence
 * Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Deputy Chairman of Senate
 * Shandana Gulzar, first woman of Khyber-Pakhtunwa elected on general seat of National Assembly
 * Salim Saifullah Khan, Pakistani politician and former senator

India

 * Zakir Husain – Afridi Descent Governor of Bihar from 1957 to 1962 and was elected the Vice President of India in 1962. Husain was the first Muslim and the first governor of a state to be elected President of India.

Pakistan

 * Muhammad Ayub Khan (1907–1974) – Pakistani military commander who served as President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.
 * Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (4 February 1917 – 10 August 1980) was a Pakistani military officer who served as the third president of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971.
 * Ghulam Ishaq Khan, (20 January 1915 – 27 October 2006), was a Pakistani politician who served as the seventh president of Pakistan from 1988 to 1993.
 * Ghulam Muhammad, third Governor-General of Pakistan, a kakazai pashtun.

Afghanistan

 * Mohammad Daoud Khan – served as the first President of Afghanistan from 1973 to 1978.
 * Nur Muhammad Khan Taraki – Served as the second President of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1979.
 * Hafizullah Amin – He remained the 3rd head of state Afghanistan from Sept 19ember79 to Dec 19ember79, H. organizedsed theur communist Revolution in 1978.
 * Babrak Karmal – He served as the Head of state from 1979 to 1986 from People's Democratic Party.
 * Haji Muhammad Khan Tsamkani – He served as the Head of state from 1986 to 1987.
 * Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai – He served as the communist Head of state from 1987 to 1992.
 * Abdul Rahim Hatif – After the assassination of Dr Najibullah, He acted as the president of Afghanistan for 2 weeks.

Afghanistan Forces

 * Ghazi Mir Zaman Khan, War Hero of the 1919 Anglo Afghan War
 * Abdul Raziq Achakzai – former lieutenant commander of Afghan armed forces.s
 * Mohammad Akram – vice Chief of Staff of the Afghan National Army.
 * Sardar Shah Wali Khan – Afghanistan's Field Marshal who was a political and military figure
 * Obaidullah Akhund – Defense Minister of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
 * Dadullah – Afghan Taliban senior Military commander until his death 2007.
 * Abdul Qadir – Military Higher officer in Afghanistan Air Force.



Pakistan Armed Forces

 * Ayub Khan – 2nd President of Pakistan and First Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Army from Haripur.
 * Agha Yahya Khan – President of Pakistan and Commander-in-Chief.
 * Gul Hassan Khan – Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army from Quetta.
 * Abdul Waheed Kakar – Chief of Army Staff from Pakistan Army.
 * Farooq Feroze Khan – Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force.
 * Jehangir Karamat – Chief of Army Staff, Kakazai Pashtun of Punjab.
 * Asghar Khan Afridi – First Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force from Abbottabad.
 * Hakimullah Khan Durrani – Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force
 * Karamat Khan Niazi – Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy
 * Abbas Khattak – Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force.
 * Anwar Shamim – Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force.
 * Amjad Khan Niazi - Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy
 * General Ehsan ul Haq – Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee(CJCSC) and Director-General of ISI.
 * Aziz Khan – Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) of Pakistan Armed Forces.
 * Akhtar Abdur Rehman Khan – Chairman Joint Chief of the Staff Committee (CJCSC) and DG ISI.
 * Sher Ali Khan Pataudi – Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Pakistan Army.
 * Yaqub Khan – Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Pakistan Army.
 * Ali Quli Khan Khattak, Chief of General of Staff (CGS) of Pakistan Army from Karak.
 * Akbar Khan, 1st Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Pakistan Army belonged to Charsadda, who played a key role in liberation of Azad Kashmir during first Indo-Pakistan war 1947.
 * Mian Hayaud Din- Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Pakistan Army.
 * Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi – Commander of Eastern Military High Command during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
 * Nigar Johar, first female Lt. General of Pakistan Army, served as first female Surgeon General of Pakistan Armed Forces from Swabi.
 * Shuja Khanzada, Pakistan Army officer who fought in the War of '71 and Siachen conflict, martyred in a suicide blast at Attock
 * Aslam Khan – Brigadier-general of Pakistan Army played a key role in the merger of Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan.
 * Habibullah Khan Khattak – Pakistan Army 3-star rank Lieutenant General and former British Indian Army officer of the Burma Campaign during the Second World War
 * Fazle Haq - Corps Commander Pakistan Army and Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
 * Alam Khattak - Commander Southern Command Pakistan Army from Nowshera.
 * Obaidullah Khan Khattak - Commander Army Strategic Forces Command.
 * Ali Jan Aurakzai – Corps Commander Pakistan Army from Orakzai
 * Muhammad Arif Bangash – Corps Commander Pakistan Army from Hangu.
 * Asad Durrani – Pashtun of Durrani tribe who served as chief of Pakistan's premier intelligence agency ISI.
 * Hamid Gul – Chief of Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan who played key role in birth of Afghan Mujahideen
 * Imranullah Khan – Corps Commander Pakistan Army, commanded X Corps, and Governor of Balochistan.
 * Karnal Sher Khan – Pakistani military captain and recipient of Nishan-e-Haider for his role in the Kargil War, one of the only eleven holders of the highest military award.
 * Wajid Ali Khan Burki – Corps Commander Pakistan Army.
 * Khushdil Khan Afridi-Corps Commander Pakistani Army and Governor of Balochistan
 * Muhammad Amir Khan, major of Inter-Service Intelligence from Swabi who played a pivotal role in Afghan affairs of ISI.
 * Naseerullah Babar, Interior Minister of Pakistan and IG Frontier Corps.
 * Tariq Khan – Commander Central Command Pakistan Army.
 * Jahan Dad Khan – Corps Commander and Governor of Sindh.
 * Mohammad Shafiq, Corps Commander XXXI corps and Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
 * Sanaulllah Khan Niazi, General of Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom in Pakistan's War on Terror.
 * Bilal Omer Khan Burki – General of Pakistan Army. who embraced martyrdom in Pakistan's War on Terror.
 * Monowar Khan Afridi – General of Pakistan Army. who was founder of the modern health and medical education system in Pakistan and vice-chancellor of the Peshawar University.

Khalji Empire (1290-1320)

 * khilji dynasty was the second dynasty which ruled the Delhi sultanate, covering large parts of the Indian subcontinent for nearly three decades between 1290 and 1320.It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji

Durrani Empire (1747-1823)

 * Ahmad Shah Abdali – Founder of Durrani Empire. and Former ruler of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and some parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
 * Timur Shah Durrani – Second Ruler of Durrani Empire and Former ruler of Afghanistan and Punjab Region.
 * Zaman Shah Durrani – Third Ruler of Durrani Empire.

Hotak Empire

 * Mirwais Khan Hotak – Founder of Hotak Empire. Also known as the "Emir Of Greater Afghanistan".
 * Abdul Aziz Hotak – Second Ruler of Hotak Empire.
 * Mahmud Hotak – Second ruler of Hotak Empire. He was known as the Shah of Iran.
 * Ashraf Hotak – Third Ruler of Hotak Empire. Also known as the Shah of Iran. He defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Ottoman Hotak War.
 * Hussain Hotak – 4th and Last ruler of Hotak Dynasty,

Lodi Empire

 * Bahlol Lodi – The founder and first emperor of Lodi Empire
 * Sikander Lodi – Second Emperor of Lodi Empire.
 * Ibrahim Lodi – Third and Last Monarch of Lodi Empire.

Barakzai Dynasty

 * Sultan Mohammad Khan – Was the brother of Dost Muhammad Khan and First Afghan ruler of Barakzai Dynasty.
 * Dost Muhammad Khan – Was the founder of Barakzai Dynasty and remained one of the prominent ruler of Afghanistan During The first Anglo Afghan War
 * Wazir Akbar Khan (1842–1843) – was ruler and prominent part of the First Anglo Afghan War delivering a crushing defeat to the British Empire and its Raj subjects
 * Sher Ali Khan – Emir of Afghanistan (1863–1866)

Sur Empire

 * Sher Shah Suri – The founder and first monarch of Sur Empire
 * Islam Shah Suri – Second Emperor of Sur Empire
 * Firuz Shah Suri – Third Emperor of Sur Empire
 * Muhammad Adil Shah – 4th Emperor of Sur Empire
 * Ibrahim Shah Suri – 5th Emperor of Sur Empire
 * Sikandar Shah Suri – 6th Emperor of Sur Empire
 * Adil Shah Suri – 7th and last emperor of Sur Empire

Pakhtunkhawa State (Yusufzai) (1520-1620)

 * Malak Ahmad Khan Yusufzai, The founder of and first ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
 * Gaju Khan Baba, was the Second Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
 * Malak Misri Khan Yusufzai, was the Third Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
 * Malak Ghazi Khan Yusufzai, was the Fourth ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
 * Kalu Khan Yousafzai, was the 5th Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.
 * Bahaku Khan Yusufzai, was the Last Ruler of Pakhtunkhawa State.

Revolutionaries

 * Darya Khan Afridi, an early fighter of Pashtun Self-Governance, annihilated the Mughal Army at the Khyber Pass.
 * Aimal Khan Mohmand, Pashtun Warrior who declared Jehād against the Mughal Empire leading the great Afghan Revolts killing prominent commanders of the Mughal Force
 * Nur Muhammad Tarakai, Afghan communist revolutionary who served as President of the Marxist–Leninist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and led the Saur Revolution on the 28th of April, 1978
 * Hafizullah Amin, Afghan communist revolutionary who organised the Saur Revolution serving as General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
 * Nisar Muhammad Yousafzai, a War Hero of the Afghan War of Independence, recipient of the Order of Gallantry of the Emirate of Afghanistan, escaped the subsequent British Death Sentence after the occupation of his hometown Swabi and fled to Turkestan to join the Bolshevik Party
 * Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Independence freedom fighter of the British Raj and proponent of the Pashtunistan movement
 * Sartōr Faqīr, Pashtun tribal rebel leader who led a valiant stand of various Afghan tribes against the British Empire at Malakand
 * Faqir of Ipi, Chieftan of Waziristan who fought for the Pashtunistan struggle against the British Raj and its 40,000 British Indian soldiers and continued a guerilla struggle against the succeeding state of Pakistan
 * Kushal Khān Khaṭak, National Poet of Afghanistan who rallied the tribes of Pakhtunkhwa against the Mughal Empire of Aurangzeb
 * Ghazi Umra Khan of Jandul, also known as the Afghan Napoleon conquered northern Pakhtunkhwa, battling the British Empire in the Chitral Expedition and taking British soldiers as Prisoner of War
 * Meena Keshwar Kamal, Afghan political activist who headed the Revolutionary Association
 * Azimullah Khan Yusufzai; Man behind the Indian War of Independence, was the ideological leader of the Great Revolt of 1857 who planted the seeds for revolution against the British East India Company

Afghanistan

 * Rashid Khan – Afghan cricketer and one of the best spin bowlers in the world. He has achieved great success in international cricket. Khan has taken 176 wickets in the international matches under the age of 20 and thus got his name in the Guinness World Records. From Nangarhar Province
 * Hamid Hassan – Former Afghan cricketer who played as a fast bowler and represented Afghanistan in international matches. From Nangarhar Province
 * Javid Basharat – Afghan-born mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
 * Nasrat Haqparast Haqparast was born in Germany to Afghan parents from Kandahar who came as refugees from Afghanistan. He is mixed martial artist (MMA) who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the UFC.
 * Khaibar Amani – Professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and has represented Afghanistan internationally.
 * Rokhan Barakzai, Afghan cricketer
 * Zahir Shah – Afghan taekwondo athlete who represented Afghanistan at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
 * Abdul Ghafoor Yusufzai, Afghan footballer representing the Kingdom of Afghanistan in the 1948 Summer Olympics
 * Mohammad Sarwar Yousafzai, Afghan footballer, competed in the 1948 Summer Olympic Games
 * Ahmad Yusufzai, Afghan field hockey player
 * Yar Mohammad Barakzai, member of Afghan national football team
 * Mohamed Ibrahim Gharzai, Afghan Olympic football player
 * Hamidullah Yousafzai, Afghan football player who played for Afghanistan national football team
 * Hashmatullah Barakzai, Afghan football player who played for Afghanistan national football team
 * Fazalhaq Farooqi (born 22 September 2000) is an Afghan international cricketer who plays Afghanistan cricket team for the in all formats of the game. From Baghlan Province
 * Rahmanullah (Pashto: رحمان الله ګربز; born 28 November 2001) is an Afghan cricketer. He made his international debut for Afghanistan in September 2019.
 * Mohammad Nabi Essakhail is an Afghan cricketer and former captain of the Afghanistan national cricket team. Nabi is an attacking batting all-rounder, playing as a right-handed batsman and off-break bowler.
 * Mujeeb Ur Rahman is an Afghan cricketer, who plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team. Two months after his international debut, at the age of 16 years and 325 days, he became the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in a One Day International.
 * Noor Ahmad (born 3 January 2005) is an Afghan cricketer, who made his international debut for the national cricket team in June 2022.

Pakistan

 * Shahid Afridi – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the most popular and successful all-rounders in the game.
 * Imran Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer, legendary fast bowler, and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
 * Younis Khan – Former Pakistani cricketer and one of the leading run-scorers in Test cricket history.
 * Zubair Ahmed – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
 * Samiullah Khan – Former Pakistani field hockey player who won three gold medals at the Olympics and is considered one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.
 * Jahangir Khan – Former Pakistani squash player, considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history.
 * Zaman Khan, Pakistani international cricketer from South Waziristan.
 * Abrar Ahmed, Pakistani cricketer from Mansehra who became Pakistani bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in the first session on Test debut.
 * Junaid Khan, Pakistani international cricketer.
 * Yasir Shah, Pakistani cricketer and leg-spinner from Swabi.
 * Shaheen Afridi, Pakistani international cricketer from Khyber.
 * Qazi Mohib, Former Olympian and Ex Captain Pakistan Hockey Team from Bannu
 * Naseem Shah, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Dir.
 * Muhammad Waseem Wazir, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Waziristan.
 * Muhammad Rizwan, Pakistani cricketer and batsman from Peshawar.
 * Mohammad Haris, Pakistani cricketer and batsman from Peshawar.
 * Khushdil Shah, Pakistani cricketer from Bannu.
 * Jansher Khan, Pakistani squash player.
 * Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistani cricketer and all rounder from Peshawar.
 * Haris Rauf, Pakistani cricketer and fast bowler from Mansehra
 * Fakhar Zaman, Pakistani cricketer from Mardan
 * Mir Azam, first-class cricketer of Swabi in the Abbottabad team, also known as the falcons
 * Umar Gul- Pakistani international cricketer from Peshawar.
 * Wajahatullah Wasti- Pakistani international cricketer from Peshawar.
 * Saim Ayub, Pakistani international cricketer
 * Shan Masood Khan, Pakistani international cricketer
 * Ihsanullah, Pakistani international cricketer and fast bowler from Swat
 * Javed Burki, Former legendary Pakistani test cricketer.
 * Usman Shinwari, Pakistani international cricketer and fast bowler from Khyber.
 * Majid Khan, Former Pakistani international cricketer, batsman and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team.
 * Sharmeen Khan, Pioneer of Pakistan's Women cricket
 * Hashim Khan
 * Noreena shams
 * Maria Toorpakai Wazir

Afghanistan

 * Ahmad Zahir  Pashtun singer from Laghman province.
 * Latif Nangarhari Pashto Singer from Nangarhar Province.
 * Naghma is an Afghan singer who started her career in the early 1980s.
 * Shafiq murid is an Afghan singer, writer, and composer.

Pakistan

 * Gul Panra – Pashto Singer from Swat.
 * Haroon Bacha – Pashto Folk singer.
 * Raheem Shah – Pashto singer, born in Karachi.
 * Junaid Jamshed, was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, television personality, fashion designer, actor, engineer, and preacher. Junaid Jamshed was born in a Khattak Pathan family in Karachi.

Pakistan

 * Nasirul Mulk – 22nd Chief Justice of Pakistan.
 * Bashir Jehangiri – Chief Justice of Pakistan.
 * Jamal Khan Mandokhail – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
 * Mian Shakirullah Jan – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
 * Tariq Pervez Khan – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Dost Muhammad Khan – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Mazhar Alam Miankhel – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court.
 * Yahya Afridi – Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan due to become Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2028.
 * Musarrat Hilali – Second female Justice in the history Supreme Court of Pakistan.
 * Athar Minallah – Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court.
 * Naeem Akhtar Afghan – Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
 * Muhammad Hashim Kakar – Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
 * Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail – Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.
 * Amanullah Khan Yasinzai – Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court
 * Muhammad Ibrahim Khan – Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Shah Nawaz Khan (judge) – Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Syed Usman Ali Shah – Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Muhammad Raza Khan – Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Qaiser Rashid Khan – Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court
 * Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri – Justice of Islamabad High Court
 * Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb – Justice of Islamabad High Court