Nasar (Pashtun tribe)
The Nasar tribe is an ethnic Pashtun Ghilzai tribe mainly living in Afghanistan and some in Pakistan. Nasar has mostly remained a nomadic tribe throughout history due to which it spread in the provinces of Zabul, Kunar, Paktia, Laghman, Nangarhar and Ghazni. The Nasar people also live in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region (Dera Ismail Khan, Draban Kalan) and Balochistan (Districts like Loralai, Quetta, Duki, Sanjavi, Zhob and Musakhail).[1]
History
[edit]Saidal Khan Nasar was considered a Nasar chieftain and a prominent military leader during the time of the Hotak Empire (1709–1738), known for his fierce resistance against the Safavid Empire's control over Afghan territories. His actions contributed to the Afghan struggle for independence, specifically in campaigns led by Mirwais Hotak and later his successors. According to The Kingdom of Afghanistan: A Historical Sketch by George P. Tate [2], Saidal Khan was instrumental in organizing and leading Pashtun forces in key battles that weakened Persian control in the region. His leadership and valor were emblematic of the broader Pashtun resistance against foreign rule, exemplifying the Nasar tribe's historic association with honor and warfare.
Tate's work highlights that figures like Saidal Khan were not only significant as military commanders but also as symbols of Pashtun unity and resistance. His contributions in battles, particularly around Kandahar, became legendary, and he is remembered as a pivotal figure who upheld the autonomy of Afghan tribes during a period marked by both internal and external conflicts.