Kochis

Kochis also spelt as Kuchis (Pashto: کوچۍ Kuchis) are pastoral nomads belonging primarily to the Ghilji Pashtuns. It is a social rather than ethnic grouping, although they have some of the characteristics of a distinct ethnic group. They live southern and eastern Afghanistan, the largest population of Kuchis is probably in Registan Desert in southern Afghanistan^[1] In the southern, western and northern regions of Afghanistan they are also referred to at times as maldar (Pashto: مالدار maldar, "herd-owner"),^[2] or Powindah.^[3] Some of the most notable Ghilji Kochi tribes include the Kharoti, Niazi, Andar, Akakhel, and nasar Ahmadzai.^[4] In the Pashto language, the terms are کوچۍ Kochai (singular) and کوچیان Kochian (plural). In the Persian language, کوچی "Kochi" and "Kochiha" are the singular and plural forms (respectively).