Аннотация
This article considers the formation of the nomadic Pashtoon people as an ethnicity and nation. The novelty of research is in analysis of common origin of the Pashtoons and nomadic Turkic peoples. The analysis is carried out by comparing different sources, which can be both historical information from authors of different periods from ancient times to modern times, and poets’ literary works of those times. The objective of this study is to identify the centuries-old layering of various nomadic and sedentary peoples in the vast expanses of the territory of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as their creation of multi-ethnic states (the Delhi Sultanate, the Khattak Principality, the Durrani Empire and others) which played a significant geopolitical role in the context of interaction between the countries of Central and South Asia, as well as the Near and Middle East (in the struggle against Persia). The goal of research is to establish that the Pashtoons are descendants of the ancient Sakas. This article also considers their participation in the formation of ancient states (the Achaemenid, Macedonian, and Kushan Empires), their inclusion in medieval states (the Ghaznavids, Mongolians, and Great Mughals), and their connecting role in the Central Asian and South Asian regions in these periods. The purpose of this article is to study the development of Afghan nomads in ancient, medieval, and modern times. It mainly uses textual and comparative analysis to determine the influence of historical facts and geographic factors. The results presented in this article allowed the authors to conclude that the tribal system and lifestyle of Afghan nomads were formed for centuries. The material presented in this article allowed the authors to conclude that the Afghan nomads had a centuries-old strategy for waging war and trade, which included the use of all principles of the tribal structure, defense and attack against external enemies, and the use of diplomacy and other political methods.