The Aimaq (
Persian: ایماق,
romanized: Aimāq) or Chahar Aimaq (چهار ایماق), also transliterated as Aymaq, Aimagh, Aimak, and Aymak are a collection of
Sunni and mostly
Persian-speaking[7]nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.[8] They live mainly in the central and western highlands of
Afghanistan, especially in
Ghor and
Badghis. Aimaqs were originally known as chahar ("four") Aymaqs:
Jamshidi,
Aimaq Hazara,
Firozkohi, and
Taymani.[9] The
Timuri, which is a separate tribe but is sometimes included among Aimaqs, which is known as Aimaq-e digar ("other Aimaq").[10]
The Aimaq speak several subdialects of the
Aimaq dialect of the
Persian language, but some southern groups of Taymani, Firozkohi, and northeastern Timuri Aimaqs have adopted the
Pashto language.[11]
Etymology
The word "Aimaq" is derived from the
Turkic-
Mongolic word "Oymaq" that means "tribe" and "group of tribes".[7][9]
Origin
The Aimaqs claim different origins based on their tribal background. Some claim to be descended from the troops of
Genghis Khan.[12] The
Taymani and
Firozkohi claim descent from
Pashtun tribes.[13]
Culture and society
The Aimaq are largely nomadic to semi-nomadic goat and sheep herders. They also trade with villages and farmers during migrations for pastures for their livestock. The material culture and foodstuffs of the Aimaq include skins, carpets, milk, dairy products and more. They trade these products to settled peoples in return for vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, and other types of foods and goods.[12]
^The last census in Afghanistan was conducted in 1979, and was itself incomplete. Due to the
ongoing conflict in the country, no official census has been conducted since.[1]
^Tom Lansford -A bitter harvest: US foreign policy and Afghanistan 2003 Page 25 "The term Aimaq means "tribe" but the Aimaq people actually include several different ethnic groups. The classification has come to be used for a variety of nonaligned nomadic tribes"
^
abSpuler, B. (2012-04-24),
"Aymak", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Brill, retrieved 2023-07-14
^Janata, A.
"Aymāq". iranicaonline.org.
Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2021. A Kākaṛ Pashtun from Baluchistan, Tayman, formed a coalition in Ḡūr around 1650. The traditional chiefs of the northern Fīrūzkūhī, Zay Ḥākem, claim descent from Ačakzay Pashtun ancestors.
1 Central Asian (i.e.
Turkmeni,
Afghani and
Iranian)
Turkmens, distinct from Levantine (i.e.
Iraqi and
Syrian) Turkmen/Turkoman minorities, who mostly adhere to an Ottoman-Turkish heritage and identity.
2 In traditional areas of Turkish settlement (i.e. former
Ottoman territories).