page_title: Kochi people
section_title: Kochi among Taliban
hierarchical_section_title: Kochi people / Kochi among Taliban
caption_attribution_description: English: Hazara Villages in Ghazni and Maidan Under Attacks by Kochis and Taliban http://www.hazarapeople.com/2018/05/08/hazara-villages-in-ghazni-and-maidan-under-attack-of-kochis-and-taliban/
context_page_description: Kochis or Kuchis are nomads from Northern- and Eastern Pakistan and Afghanistan primarily from the Ghilji Pashtuns. Some of the most notable Ghilji Kochi tribes include the Kharoti, Niazi, Andar, Akakhel and nasar Ahmadzai. Occasionally there may also be some Baloch people among them that live a pastoral nomadic lifestyle. In the Pashto language, the terms are کوچۍ Kochai and کوچیان Kochian. In the Persian language, کوچی "Kochi" and "Kochiha" are the singular and plural forms.
context_section_description: According to a classified cable sent by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry—revealed by WikiLeaks—Abdul Wahab Sulemankheil, Director General (DG) of the Independent Directorate of Kochis, declared that more than half of the Taliban are Kochis, a figure doubted by Eikenberry:
  The DG noted the Kuchis have always played an important role in Afghan society, both in living the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the ancient Afghans, and in their involvement in the wars and revolutions that have torn Afghanistan apart.  The Kuchis continue to play such a role now.  Opponents of the various Afghan governments have historically manipulated and played on Kuchi dissatisfaction to incite revolution and fuel opposition to foreign involvement in Afghanistan.  The DG said the Taliban have gained Kuchi support by manipulating Kuchi dissatisfaction with the government.  The DG estimated that over 1/2 of Taliban are Kuchis, who had been easily persuaded to side with the Taliban out of ignorance.  For example, in his home province of Paktika, the majority of Taliban commanders are Kuchis. (Comment: The Other Government Agency office estimates Kuchis comprise only a single-digit percentage of the Taliban.  The DG may be inflating the participation of the Kuchis in the Taliban movement to ensure Kuchi interests are considered in any peace-promotion efforts.
  Every year, the fully armed Kochis backed by the Taliban attack on Hazara people and their land resulting in displacing and killing local Hazaras and burning and looting their home.
caption: Hazara Villages in Ghazni and Maidan Under Attacks by Kochis and Taliban
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