I go to Herat at least 3 or 4 times every year. From my observation...Tajiks (approximately half Shia and half Sunni) and Pashtuns (mostly originating from Kandahar area) appear as 50%/50%. Most people in the city speak Herati (localized Persian language). In other words, Herati is the official language of the city. Pashto is also spoken among some of the Pashtuns, although most Pashtuns rather speak Herati. This confuses the westerners, assuming all those that speak Herati are Tajiks. Anyone who is Afghan and familiar with Herat will tell you that Pashtuns make up the second largest population. User:NisarKand November 11, 2006