Name of Afghanistan

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Related historical regions Arachosia Aria Ariana Bactria Gandhara Iran Kabulistan Kafiristan Khorasan Kushanshahr Paropamisadae Sistan Zabulistan
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The name Afghānistān (Dari: افغانستان, Afġānistān Dari pronunciation: [afɣɑnɪsˈtʰɑn]; Pashto: افغانستان Afġānistān Pashto pronunciation: [avɣɒnisˈtɒn, abɣɒnisˈtɒn]^{[note 1]})^[1] means "land of the Afghans",^[2] the name "Afghan" originally referred to a member of the Pashtuns.^[3] which originates from the ethnonym Afghan. Historically, Pashtuns were referred to as Afghans, the largest ethnic group of Afghanistan.^[2][4] The earliest reference to the name is found in the 10th-century geography book known as Hudud al-'Alam.^[5] The last part of the name, -stān is a Persian suffix for "place".

In the early 19th century, Afghan politicians adopted the name Afghanistan for the entire Durrani Empire after its English translation had already appeared in various treaties with Qajarid Persia and British India.^[6] The first time the word Afghanistan was officially used was during signing of Treaty of Gandamak, after defeat of Afghan Emir Yaqoob Khan during Second Anglo-Afghan War.

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