Their population is about 1.800.000 and they
live in the cities of Farab, Belh, Samangan, Kunduz, Tahhar and Bedahshan. These people
are divided into subgroups such as Uzbeks, Turkmens, Kazakhs and Khirghiz people. Their
situation is ambiguous in the country that continuously suffers a civil war. However, the
Uzbeks in the command of Uzbek General, Raşid Dostum still fight against the groups such
as Taliban, etc.
Those who speak Turkish
in Afghanistan include 10% of the general population. Turkish is the third language group
spoken in this region. The values indicated are the anticipated figures since a sound
census cannot be carried out in Afghanistan. The Turkish groups in Afghanistan are as
follows:
Uzbeks: They live in Afghanistan, Farab, Belh, Mezar-ı Şerif, Samangan
and Kunduz. Their number is estimated between 1 and 1,5 millions. They are engaged in
agriculture and stockbreeding.
Turkmens: They live in the Northwest of the country. Their conjectural
number is about 200 thousands. They are composed of the tribes of Teke, Şalar,
Sarık, Çekra, Mavrı, and Tarık. They generally lead a nomadic life.
Khirghizes: They are settled in the regions of Tahhar and Bedahshan in the
northwest of Afghanistan. Their number is about 90 thousands. Most of them lead a nomadic
life.
Kazakhs : Their number is low. All
of them lead a nomadic life. It is supposed that they had come from the Chinese regions as
a nomadic tribe. The rate of literacy pertaining to those who speak Turkish language in
Afghanistan is rather low. Their economy is based on cotton and sugar beet. Furthermore,
stockbreeding has a significant place in the economy. Breeding of Karakul sheep and the
handwoven carpet business are in demand.
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