Pashtuns (also spelled Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns), also known as ethnic Afghans are an Eastern Iranian ethnic group with populations primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Pashtuns are typically characterized by their usage of the Pashto language and practice of Pashtunwali, which is a traditional set of ethics guiding individual and communal conduct.

Their origins are unclear but historians have come across references to various ancient peoples called Paktha (Pactyans) between the 2nd and the 1st millennium BCE, who inhabited the region between the Hindu Kush and Indus River and may be the early ancestors of Pashtuns.

Since the 3rd century CE and onward, they have been referred to by the ethnonym "Afghan".

Often characterized as a warrior and martial race, their history is spread amongst various countries of South, Central and Western Asia, centered around their traditional seat of power in medieval Afghanistan.

During the Delhi Sultanate era, the Pashtun Lodi dynasty replaces the Turkic kingdoms as the ruling dynasty in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.

Other Pashtuns ight the Persian Empire and the Mughal Empire before obtaining an independent state in the early-18th century, which begins with a successful revolution by the Mirwais Hotak followed by conquests by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Pashtuns play a vital role during the Great Game from the 19th century to the 20th century as they are caught between the imperialist designs of the British and Russian empires.Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan; for over 300 years, they have reigned as the dominant ethno-linguistic group, with nearly all rulers being Pashtun.

They make up the majority of the Taliban and the current Afghan government.

The mujahideen who fought against the Soviet-backed Afghan government in the 1980s were also dominated by Pashtun fighters.

They are also an important community in Pakistan, which has the largest Pashtun population and constitute the second-largest ethnic group, having attained presidency and high positions in sports.The Pashtuns are the world's largest (patriarchal) segmentary lineage ethnic group.

According to Ethnologue, the total population of the group is estimated to be around 50 million but an accurate count remains elusive due to the lack of an official census in Afghanistan since 1979.

Estimates of the number of Pashtun tribes and clans range from about 350 to over 400.