ABSTRACT
The majority of Afghanis live in rural areas and can be divided into four main ethnic groupings-Pathans, who make up 50 per cent of the total population and can be further divided into Durani and Ghilzais; Tajiks, who represent about 25 per cent; and Uzbeks and Hazaras, who each comprise 9 per cent. Other ethnic minorities include Charar Aimaks, Turkoman and Baloch. The official and most commonly spoken languages in Afghanistan are Pashto and Persian (Dari). Pashto has an extensive literary tradition while Persian is used more in business and governmental realms. The truly unifying element in the country is religion. More than 99 per cent of Afghans are Muslim, the majority being Sunni Muslim. Most of the remaining Muslims, including the Hazaras, belong to the Shiite sect.
