Afghan Turkmens

The **Turkmens of Afghanistan** (; ) are a Turkic ethnic group who live mainly in northern Afghanistan, close to the borders with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Because Afghanistan has no recent national census, their exact number is not known. Most studies say Turkmens make up about three percent of the population, or around one to one and a half million people. They are closely related to the Turkmen people of Turkmenistan and come from Oghuz Turkic tribes that moved into the region over many centuries.

## History and settlement

Turkmen groups entered Afghanistan in different periods. Early Oghuz groups arrived in medieval times, especially during the Seljuk and Ghaznavid periods, when Turkic soldiers and herders moved into Khorasan and northern Afghanistan. A much larger migration happened in the late 1800s, when the Russian Empire took control of Turkmen areas such as Merv. Many Turkmen families crossed the Amu Darya into Afghanistan to escape Russian rule. They settled in provinces such as Jowzjan, Faryab, Balkh, Badghis and Herat, where they kept their herding lifestyle, tribal customs and weaving traditions.
During the 20th century, Afghan Turkmens developed separately from Turkmens in the Soviet Union. The border was closed, so Afghan Turkmens kept older forms of language, clan identity and carpet‑weaving that changed or disappeared in Soviet Central Asia. Today, most Turkmens live in a long strip of land from Herat in the west to Kunduz in the northeast, with the largest numbers in Jowzjan and Faryab. They live near Uzbeks, Tajiks and Pashtuns in the region known as Afghan Turkestan.

A British survey from 1884 gives one of the earliest population records for Afghan Turkestan. It counted 8,505 Turkmen families out of 87,105 total families, placing them fifth among the main ethnic groups of the region.

|Ethnic group|Number of families|
| --- | --- |
|Uzbeks|30,080|
|Arabs|16,070|
|Hazaras|11,490|
|Tajiks|10,740|
|Turkmens|8,505|
|Baluch and Firozukhi|3,730|
|Afghans (Pashtuns)|3,420|
|Sayyids and Khwajas|1,610|
|Kipchaks|1,460|

Modern estimates still differ. Minority Rights Group and the Institute for the Study of War both say Turkmens are about three percent of Afghanistan’s population, or around one million people. A report by the MCIA gives a much lower estimate of about 200,000, but this is seen as too low because it does not fully count rural and nomadic groups. Most researchers therefore place the population between one and 1.3 million.

## Society, culture and economy

Afghan Turkmens speak a form of the Turkmen language that keeps many old Oghuz features not found in modern Turkmenistan. Many Turkmens also speak Dari, especially in towns, but Turkmen is the main language in daily life. Most Turkmens are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school. Their religious life mixes Islamic practices with older Turkic customs, such as respect for ancestors and clan symbols.

Turkmen society is based on tribes and clans. The largest group is the Ersari, followed by Teke, Yomut, Saryk and Chowdur. Tribal identity is important for marriage, land and community leadership. Many clans still use tamgas (tribal marks) on animals, carpets and tools.

Turkmens are well known for carpet weaving, which is one of Afghanistan’s major exports. Their carpets use deep red colors, gul patterns and hand‑spun wool. Because Afghan Turkmens were not affected by Soviet industrial changes, their weaving style is often seen as more traditional. Turkmens also raise karakul sheep, whose wool and pelts were once a major export. Farming is common in settled areas, with wheat, melons and cotton as main crops.

Turkmen culture includes traditional clothing, music and storytelling. Women wear long embroidered dresses and silver jewelry. Men often wear the large sheepskin hat called a *telpek*. Weddings are large events with poetry, music and feasts. Some Turkmen groups still move seasonally between summer and winter pastures, and some keep old oral stories linked to Oghuz Khan. Natural dye methods used in Turkmen carpets have survived in Afghanistan even though they disappeared in Soviet Central Asia.

## Politics and relations

Turkmens usually focus on local leadership rather than national politics. During the Soviet–Afghan War, many joined local mujahideen groups in Jowzjan and Faryab. After 2001, Turkmen leaders took part in provincial councils but did not form large political parties. Their influence is strongest in the northwest, where tribal networks and trade give them local power. Turkmens have close ties with Uzbeks, and relations with Tajiks and Pashtuns depend on land, trade and herding routes. Intermarriage with Uzbeks is common, but marriages with other groups are less frequent.

## Infobox (ethnic group)

- **group**: Turkmens of Afghanistan
- **image**: US_Army_ethnolinguistic_map_of_Afghanistan_--_circa_2001-09.jpg
- **popplace**: Afghan Turkestan (north Afghanistan)
Badghis, Balkh, Faryab, Herat, Jowzjan
- **langs**: Turkmen
Dari Persian
- **religions**: Sunni Islam (Hanafi)
- **native name lang**: tk