Glossary of Terms

amir: "commander," but also translated variously as "ruler," "chief," or "prince." Caliph Omar was the first to use the title in the 7th century; Mohammadza'i rulers after 1826 bore the title amir before the practice ceased once again under "king" Amanullah's rule; Mulla Mohammad Omar restored the title "amir" and used the word to rename the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Adamec, p. 31)

aqwam: tribes (qawm=tribe singular)

kongra: "congress"

Kuchis: Nomadic people of Pashtun origin whom the international community has singled out as among Afghanistan's particularly vulnerable groups. The 2004 constitution seeks to "improve the economic, social, and living conditions" of Kuchis, including measures for "housing and distribution of public estates." There are an estimated 6 million Kuchis in the country. They are represented on a national level by Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai.

Hegira: (also Hejira) the movement of Mohammad from Mecca in 622 C.E.; Mulsims regard the year as the first of the Islamic calendar

hizb: "party"

Hizbullah: "Party of Allah" headed by Sheikh Ali Wusuki, was a small Shi'a group of mujahedin in Herat and scattered areas with ties to Iran's "Pasdaran." In 1990, the Kabul government permitted political parties to form, one of which is headed by Sheikh Yusufi of Ghazni -- but little or nothing is known of its program or members.

mardum: people

melli: "national"

mellat: "nation"

Meshrano Jirga: In Dari, "Council of Elders" (also translated as "House of Elders"); the upper chamber of the bicameral Afghan national legislature

nahzat: "movement" (from "to rise")

rai: "vote"

Shura-ye Melli In Dari, "National Assembly" Afghanistan's national assembly, comprising an upper chamber (Meshrano Jirga) and a lower chamber (Wolesi Jirga)

tahrik: "movement" (from "to move")

uzve: akin to "councillor" or, more loosely, "senator"; used to refer to members of the District Council, Provincial Councils, and the upper house of the Afghan legislature, known as the Council of Elders

vulayat: "province"

vulaswali: "district"

wahdat: "unity"

"Wahdat": name of a Dari/Pashto newspaper published by poet and calligrapher Khal Mohammad Khasta in 1966 that was the organ of Wahdat-e Melli (National Unity party) in 1966; published party's manifesto demanding rule of law, constitutionalism, nonalignment, struggle for human rights, and peaceful coexistence, along with agricultural development and Afghan cultural revival, expansion of medical and educational facilities, and equal rights for women.

wakil: member of the lower house of the Afghan legislature, the People's Council

Wolesi Jirga: In Dari, "People's Council" (also translated as "House of the People"); the lower chamber of the bicameral Afghan national legislature

Sources: RFE/RL; Ludwig W. Adamec, "Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan"; RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan; Emory C. Bogle, "Islam: Origin & Belief"