Sahak (tribe)

The Sahak are a Pashtun tribe residing in various parts of Afghanistan.
==Origins==
The Sahak tribe belongs to the larger Pashtun ethnic group, tracing its lineage to the Ghilzai Pashtuns. Like many Pashtun tribes, they have ancient roots in the region, having coexisted with various other tribes and ethnicities throughout their history. 
The Sahak tribe is historically divided into five main groups: Andar (or Shalghar Sohak), Yota Khel (or Kosin Sohak), Pan and Drang Sohak, Dara Sohak, and China Sohak. While the Andar group was previously considered separate, it is now regarded as part of the Sahak tribe.
==Location==
The Sahak tribe is predominantly located in several regions across Afghanistan, including:
- Kabul Province: Some Sahak families reside in the rural outskirts of the capital city.
- Paktia Province: The Sahak play a significant role in the tribal structure of this south eastern province.
- Ghazni Province: Smaller Sahak communities live here, coexisting with other ethnic groups.
- Nangarhar Province: In the eastern province of Nangarhar, the Sahak are primarily involved in agriculture and integrated with other Pashtun tribes.
==Traditional Occupations and Economic Activities==
Historically, the Sahak tribe was primarily settled in the Shalghar and Gardez areas. Many Sahak men migrated to the North-West Frontier Province (now part of Pakistan) for heavy labour, contributing significantly to the local economy. Others engaged in trade, casual labour, or worked as itinerant merchants hawking clothing in India. In some cases, members of the Sahak tribe also practiced usury as part of their economic activities.
==Subtribes==
The Sahak tribe consists of several prominent subtribes, including:
- Marjan Khel
- Lakanr Khel
- Uria Khel
- Ibrahim Khel
- Usman Khel
- AbuKhel
- Kundar Khel
- Ismail Khel
==Politics and Influence==
The Sahak tribe has historically played a role in the political dynamics of their regions, particularly in Paktia and Nangarhar. Tribal elders often mediate conflicts and represent the tribe in political discussions. During the Afghan conflict against the Soviet Union, two members of the Sahak tribe, Haji Mahmad Hassan Sahak and Haji Gul Hassan Sahak, from the Suroubi faction, fought under Sibghatullah Mojadidi in the Suroubi district. Although there is no textual evidence confirming their existence, it is verbally known within the Suroubi district that they fought for this land under the eminent ex-president Sibghatullah Mojadidi.
==See also==
* List of Pashtun tribes
==Bibliography==
* A. H. R. (1911). The Pukhtun (Pathan) Tribes.
* Khan, Muhammad Hayat. Hayat-e-Afghani. 1867.
* Mcclellan, Woodward H. (1986). The Kingdom of Afghanistan and the United States. Taylor & Francis.
* Journal of the United Service Institution of India (1911). Journal of the United Service Institution of India. Volume 40.
* Fayz Muhammad (1999). Kabul Under Siege: Fayz Muhammad's Account of the 1929 Uprising. Markus Wiener Publishers.
* Mohmand, Sher Mohammad Khan (1989). The Pathan Customs. Saeed Book Bank.
* Rose, H.A. (1911). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. Volume III. Superintendent Government Printing.
* Abdul Ghani (1978). Afghanistan, Past, Present & Future. Academic Bookstore.
* Bellew, Henry W. (1891). An Inquiry Into the Ethnography of Afghanistan. K. Paul, Trench, Trübner.
Category:Pashtun tribes
Category:Tribes of Afghanistan