Qarluq / Karluk Hazaras

Qarluq Hazaras, also pronounced as “Qalugh”, live mainly in Baghlan and a large number of them once lived in Uruzgan province of Central Afghanistan (Hazaristan). In Baghlan, they are an independent Hazara tribe, whereas in Uruzgan, they were a sub-tribe of one of the Hazara tribes that lived in that province, possibly Dai Khitai or Polada (1). There were three main Hazara tribes in Uruzgan, Dai Chuban, Dai Khitai, Polada and also a number of smaller Hazara clans.

Turan, Turkic and Mongol Nations all around the globe

Turan, Turkic and Mongol Nations all around the globe

I came across this very interesting video on YouTube which shows all Turkic and Mongol ethnicities. It gives a good indication of how many and how diverse Turk o Mongol ethnicities are.

Wacht video >>>

A brief post about Hazaras of Baghlan and Samangan

Bağlan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is of great significance to Hazara history and unity. It has shown capabilities in unifying local Hazaras regardless of whether they are Sunni or Shia in good and bad times. There are also Hazaras in Qundoz (e.g. Khaan Abaad Hazaras), Balkh, Badakhshan and Takhar, but this post is mainly about Hazaras in Baghlan and Samangan.

Stage 1 – Hazara ancestors before 12th century (Ak Huns)

The Huns

‘Turan’ is an ancient Dari word which means Central and part of North Asia. To be more specific it refers to the regions that are today known as Mongolia and some countries surrounding it. Around 400 BC, present day Mongolia was home to many nomadic tribes.

U.S. official resigns over Afghanistan war

Foreign Service officer and former Marine captain says he no longer knows why his nation is fighting.

When Matthew Hoh joined the Foreign Service early this year, he was exactly the kind of smart civil-military hybrid the administration was looking for to help expand its development efforts in Afghanistan.

Eight years of ISAF operations in Afghanistan. Who are the winners?

The Enduring Freedom operation was launched in the night of October 7, 2001. International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), operating under NATO, have been present in Afghanistan for already 8 years. ISAF are represented by 39 countries, both inside and outside NATO.

Turkey is looking increasingly outward, but not in our direction

Twenty years ago the democratic revolutions in East and Central Europe prompted the first great-power retreat in the continent since the end of the Second World War. Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops, supported by generous German funding, decamped for home, to be followed by many more after the Soviet Union itself collapsed.

Qizilbash people of Afghanistan

The Qizilbash are Turkic-speaking Azerbaijani background, united in their belief in Twelver Shia Islam.

The Strategic Debate Over Afghanistan

After U.S. airstrikes killed scores of civilians in western Afghanistan this past week, White House National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones said the United States would continue with the airstrikes and would not tie the hands of U.S. generals fighting in Afghanistan.

Eurovision 2009

Alexander Rybak won the competition with his song Fairytale, gaining 387 points.

The 54th Eurovision Song Contest was held on Saturday night in the Russian capital Moscow.

If the Afghanistan boat sinks, the West will also sink

If the Afghanistan boat sinks, the West will also sink

“The Afghanistans, the generals there and the West — we are all in the same boat.

Afghanistan surge takes a fruitful twist

Afghanistan surge takes a fruitful twist

ASADABAD, Afghanistan – The slight Californian agronomist who traded in his dreadlocks for a beard before leaving for his first deployment in a military zone is often mistaken

Afghanistan Report 2009

Afghanistan Report 2009

The Report offers an overview for each of the three main lines of effort in which NATO-ISAF is involved, directly or in a supporting role:

Listening in Kabul

Listening in Kabul

KABUL — Try to picture the unlikely scene here Monday: A brash U.S. diplomat and America’s top military officer 

Plan would narrow goals in Afghanistan war

Plan would narrow goals in Afghanistan war

President Barack Obama’s plan to widen U.S. involvement in Afghanistan came after an internal debate in which Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.