What is "hotak"

The Hotak , or Hotaki , are a tribe of the Ghilji confederacy of the Pashtun people. The Hotak started centuries ago as a political family. The first king to take power in Kandahar, Afghanistan, was Mirwais Hotak (1673–1715). After his death many different Hotaks took the throne, such as Mahmud Hotak, Ashraf Hotak, and Hussain Hotak, eventually losing control.

Hotak is a Pashtun family name, and the name of the Hotaki dynasty. People with the surname Hotak or Hotaki include:

• Abdul Aziz Hotak (died 1717), second ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
• Ashraf Hotaki (died 1730), fourth ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
• Ghulan Mohammed Hotak, Taliban fighter who defected to the Interim Afghan Government
• Hamza Hotak (born 1991), Afghan cricketer
• Hussain Hotaki (died 1738), fifth and last ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
• Mahmud Hotaki (died 1725), third ruler of the Hotaki dynasty
• Mir Wais Hotak (1673–1715), founder of the Hotaki dynasty
• Musa Hotak, Afghan military leader and politician from Maidan Shar of Wardak Province