Pashtuns are Yeptalites, Kushans, Scythians?

[Sarbani]

The term Tajik didn't exist before the Mongol invasions. To be honest, I don't know why Tajiks want to claim Sogdians, Bactrians, Kushans, Ghorids (all of them Eastern Iranian) and at the same time claim that they are Persians (Western Iranians).

They have an identity crisis. They don't know what they are, so they try to claim everything and everyone.

[Afghanfootball]

[IMG][/IMG]

I don't remember for sure where I heard that Ariana was Persian. You make good points regarding Paktyans wearing different attire and stuff. I've also heard the term "ethnic Paktyan" before. I'll look more into it and see if I can find any more information. Drangiana and Arachosia were definitely one province though and it wouldn't make sense to make them one if they were ethnically different.

Bactria, Aria, Sogdiana, and Ganhdara were ruled by one satrap as well. So I dont think ethnicity had much of a role when provinces were combined

Iran: the world's first superpower

[Afghanfootball]

From Darius's behstun inscription

"(6) King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia [Pârsa], Elam [Ûvja], Babylonia [Bâbiruš], Assyria [Athurâ], Arabia [Arabâya], Egypt [Mudrâya], the countries by the Sea, Lydia [Sparda], the Greeks [Yauna (Ionia)], Media [Mâda], Armenia [Armina], Cappadocia [Katpatuka], Parthia [Parthava], Drangiana [Zraka], Aria [Haraiva], Chorasmia [Uvârazmîy], Bactria [Bâxtriš], Sogdia [Suguda], Gandhara [Gadâra], Scythia [Saka], Sattagydia [Thataguš], Arachosia [Harauvatiš] and Maka [Maka]; twenty-three lands in all."

Aria, Bactria, Parthia, Arachosia, and Zrangiana are all mentioned as different countries while the Persian majority countries such as Carmania and Sousiane were added to Persia by the Persian kings