Original sentence: "Although there are close to 2.5 million Kuchi in this country of 31 million people, they are one of the least-understood groups in Afghanistan’s often violent ethnic stew, and for centuries have occupied a unique space in the intrigues of the region.6 million) of Afghanistan's 25 million people.Officially, Kuchis are estimated to make up about 2-3 million of the Afghan population, but the real numbers are much higher.Pashto speakers represent an estimated of at least 35%-42% (ca.The Pashtuns make the largest nomadic group in Afghanistan and belong mostly to the Ghalzai and Durrani tribes.The population of nomads in Afghanistan was estimated at about 1-2 million people in 1979.They are not marginalized, but their vulnerability is great; as Afghanistan's population grows, competing claims over summer pastures, both for rainfed cultivation and for grazing of the settled communities' livestock, have created conflict over land across northern Afghanistan.They were armed with machine guns of the types of AK 47 and AK 74
Edited sentence: "The nomads and semi-nomads, generally called Kuchi in Afghanistan, mostly keep sheep and goats.As Afghanistan's population grows, competing claims over summer pastures, both for rainfed cultivation and for grazing of the settled communities' livestock, have created conflict over land across northern Afghanistan.In 2004 the Kuchis were estimated to number about 3 million, but the real numbers are much higher.In recent decades, migrations inside Afghanistan continue, although trucks are now often being used to livestock and family from one place to another.In this way an extensive network of exchange has developed along the main routes annually followed by the nomads.The merchant Powindah (Ghalji) [or Ghalzai] Pashtuns used to move annually from the Afghanistan mountains to the valley of the Indus and hence deep into India.The population of nomads in Afghanistan was estimated at about 1-2 million people in 1979, most of them Pashtuns and Baluch.The produce of the animals (meat, dairy products, hair and wool) is exchanged or sold in order to purchase grain, vegetables, fruit and other products of settled life.These long-distance migrations were stopped in the early 1960s when the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan were closed.They are not marginalized, but their vulnerability is great.They were armed with AK 47 and AK 74 machine guns