What is "durrani"

Durrani or Abdali is the name of a prominent Sarbani Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali, which may derive from the more ancient Ebodalo ( Bactrian: ηβοδαλο / " Hephthalites"). The word Abdal is also the plural form of the Arabic word Abdul, which means slave or follower. They have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16% of the population of Afghanistan or 5 million individuals. Durrani are found throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan; although large concentrations are found in southern Afghanistan, they are also found to a lesser extent in east, west and central Afghanistan. Many Durranis are found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. The Durrani Pashtuns of the Afghan capital Kabul are usually bilingual in Pashto and Dari Persian. The ruling Sadozai and Barakzai dynasties of Afghanistan were originally from the Durrani. Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzi is one of the most well known Durrani.

Durrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Sarbani Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is a surname found in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.

• Abdul Wahid Durrani, Pakistani international footballer
• Abdur Rahim Durrani, retired Brigadier General of Pakistan Army who served as Governor of Baluchistan province of Pakistan from 1994 to 1995
• Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Durrani Empire, which he ruled from 1747 to 1772
• Ali Shah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1818 to 1819
• Amin Durrani, one of 17 people detained on 2-3 June 2006 in Toronto, Canada in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests
• Asad Durrani, director-general of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence from 1990 to 1992 and director-general of the Pakistani Army's Military Intelligence
• Asif Durrani, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates
• Attash Durrani, Pakistani linguist, researcher, critic and author
• Ayatullah Durrani, former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and former Minister of State for Industries and Production
• Ayub Shah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1819 to 1823
• Ejaz Durrani, Pakistani film actor, director and producer active from 1956 to 1984
• Ghulam Mustafa Durrani, Indian Radio Drama Artist, playback singer, actor and music director
• Hakeemullah Khan Durrani, Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan's Air Force from 1988 to 1991
• Hayatullah Khan Durrani, Pakistani cave explorer, mountaineer, environmentalist, organizer, and a rescuer
• Iqbal Durrani, an Indian writer, director, actor and producer of Hindi films
• Mahmud Ali Durrani, retired two-star rank general officer, author of security studies, and a former National Security Adviser to Pervez Musharraf, serving from 2008 to 2009
• Mahmood Khan Durrani, British Indian Army Captain in Malaya during World War II, awarded the medal for heroism while a Prisoner of War of the Japanese Army
• Mahmud Shah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1801 to 1803 and again from 1809 to 1818
• Mohammad Abubakar Durrani, Pakistani canoeist
• Nasir Durrani, Inspector General of Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2013
• Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan since 24 December 2015
• Shah Shujah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1803 to 1809
• Shahkur Ullah Durrani, managing director of Pakistan International Airlines and Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
• Shahzada Kamran Durrani, son of Mahmud Shah Durrani and an Emir of Afghanistan
• Tehmina Durrani, Pakistani women's rights activist and author
• Timur Shah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1772 to 1793
• Zaman Shah Durrani, ruled the Durrani Empire from 1793 to 1800