What is "wardak"

Wardak may refer to:

The Wardak Pashtun are a tribe from the Karlani subgroup of Pashtun in central and eastern Afghanistan, mainly found in Wardak Province. The Wardak are divided into Meer Khail, Mayaar, and Noori sub-clans. The various Wardak sub-tribes live in all of the province’s districts except for Hisa-I-Awali Bihsud and Markazi Bihsud. Some Wardaks can also be found in Peshawar, Battagram and Attock, and Upper Dir districts of Pakistan.

Some Wardak leaders were known for their opposition to the British in 1879–1880. During the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Muhammad Jan Khan Wardak gathered an army and fought against the British before being executed by Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. Wardaks played an important role in supporting Abdul Ahad Wardak against Amanullah Khan after Amanullah abolished Pardah and other Islamic rules.

Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Wardaks fought against the Red Army and never submitted to their rule. They were the first to enter Kabul and defeated the army of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Currently, several Wardak Pashtuns hold important posts in the central government, including the Minister of Defense General Abdur Rahim Wardak, the Minister of Information, Culture and Youth Abdul Karim Khoram, and the Minister of Education Ghulam Farooq Wardak.