Afghanistan: Afghan Nomads Mourn a Vanishing Way of Life

Apr 8, 2021 | Abubakar Siddique, Radio Free Afghanistan
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Kuchis or Pawindas, terms used for Pashtun nomads hailing from more than a dozen tribes of the larger Ghilzai group, were once one of the largest nomadic communities in the world. But decades of war, forced displacement, droughts, socioeconomic and technological changes, and a push toward settlement have rendered them one of the most marginalized communities in Afghanistan. After attempting to adapt to a sedentary life, Manan says he preferred his family’s constant travels, which saw them traverse several hundred kilometers each year between Kandahar and Helmand provinces in the south to Ghazni’s mountain meadows.