The Tareen (or Tarin) () is the largest Pashtun tribe inhabiting southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan.

History

Much of the tribe continues to live in their native lands in the southern parts of Afghanistan and Pishin in Baluchistan, Pakistan. During the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628 to 1658), a group of Tareens emigrated to the area which is now the Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Tareen chiefs resisted the Sikh occupation of Hazara region which resulted in their properties/ land being usurped by Sikh armies.

Branches (Clans)

According to Ni'mat Allah al-Harawi in History of the Afghans, Tareen had three sons namely: Tor, Spin (Aspin or Speen) and Awdal/Born Tareen/Abdali. Their descendants today have adopted the names above as tribal identities and are known as Tor Tareen, Spin Tareen and Bor Tareen. These three major clans are further divided into smaller units.

Languages

The principal languages of Tareen are Tareeno and Pashto and Urdu Punjabi in Pakistan.

Location

Tareens primarily live in Pishin, Dukki, Loralai, Quetta, Ziarat, Mastung, and Harnai districts of Balochistan, while smaller populations are spread all over the province. They can also be found in parts of Afghanistan, punjab and sindh provinces of Pakistan, as well as in India.

In Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, the tribe has 'Tareen Vand' in Mardan. In Haripur, a number of Tareen families claim to have settled there since 1600s, after migrating mainly from Pishin and Kandahar.

Notable people of Tareen descent<!--Only Tarins/Tareens proper are listed here, not any of the Abdalis or other tribes descended from the Tarins/Tareens-->

  • Ahmad Khan Abdali Tareen (1747–1772 AD) 1st Emir of the Durrani Empire.
  • Muhammad Hassan Musa Khan (30 May 1863 – 1939) the early so-called "Afghan" cameleers in Australia.
  • Abdul Majid Khan Tarin OBE, (1877–1939) Magistrate during British times and MP latter.
  • Abdul Latif Khan Tarin (1884–1916), IDSM, British-Indian Army officer, WWI.
  • Muhammad Habib Khan Tarin CSI, Risaldar, cavalry officer .
  • Taj Mohammad Sr. – Former professional footballer.
  • Field Marshal Ayub Khan (President of Pakistan) (1907–1974).