Kharoti

For the town in Afghanistan, see Kharoti, Afghanistan.

Kharoti (Pashto: خروټی) is a Pashtun tribe of Ghilzai origin. The tribe has an estimated population of about 2.5 million (hence, making it one of the largest tribes in Afghanistan, where it is based).

The Kharoti live in almost all parts of Afghanistan, however, the main area where the Kharoti tribesmen reside is Loya Paktia. Their traditional heartland is the Afghan province Paktika. They live in and around Kohistan. In the East, they range from Katta to Koh-e-Sulaiman to Barmal. Another area of large Kharoti population is Urgun], where they are accompanied by the Furmali and Zadran, as well as the Tajiks and Uzbek People.

Their tribal rivals are the Waziris and Furmalis, both of whom believe the Furmali area belongs to them. Despite having a common Ghilzai origin, the much larger and more powerful Suleimankhel super-tribe are the Kharoti's traditional rivals.

The majority of Kharoti tribesmen are associated with businesses in overseas countries in Europe, America, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and in Karachi, Pakistan where they have carpets and fabrics businesses.

The Kharoti tribe is one of first Pashtun tribes to have their own organizations in Pakistan. There are two such NGO's, The Kharoti Committee, led by Haji Juma Gul Khan, which helps the poor in Sar Hawza, Paktika and the Kharoti Welfare Association, led by Haji Ameer Gul.

The most prominent figures of the Kharoti tribe include Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Farhad Darya, Gholam Serwar Nasher, Rahman Kharoti, Ustad Sayaf, Loy Sher Khan Bander and the late Mir Ahmad Khan Qader.

Since April the 2nd, 2011, Naqibullah Shorish has been chosen by the elders as the main leader of the Kharoti tribe in all parts of Afghanistan. Naqibullah Shorish was already an elder of the Kharoti community of the district Khaki Jabbar in the Kabul Province. He lived in Germany for more than 20 years, before deciding to return to Afghanistan in 2008. He is also one of the main members of the Afghan Peace Jirga, who's main purpose is to support negotiations between the Taliban, NATO and the Afghan government.

The Nasher Clan of the Kharoti tribe is based in the Konduz Province in Northern Afghanistan, where they were exiled by the ruling Abdali/Durrani tribes.