Alakozai is the name of a Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan. Spelling variations include Alakoozi, Alekozai, Alekuzei, Alikozai, Alokozay, Alokozay, Alkozai, Alokzai, Hulakozai, Alecozay, Alikusi, and Alakuzei.
History
They are one of four tribes of the Zirak tribal confederacy of the Durrani Pashtuns. Their eponymous ancestor is claimed to be Alako, son of King Zirak Khan, son of Abdal, son of Tareen.
Distribution
The Alakozai are found primarily in Helmand, Kandahar, Kabul, Laghman, Kunar Sarkani District and Herat provinces in Afghanistan, and form the majority of the population in the Sangin District. Jaldak, which is located 110 km northeast of Kandahar, is the original domicile of the Alakozai tribe. The Alakozai people stretch from Farah to Kandahar, and constitute a majority in the Arghandab District of Kandahar. The Arghandab district was given to the Alakozai tribe by King Nadir Shah, who brought down the Safavid empire of Persia with the help of the Alakozai in 1738. Arghandab was referred to by the Greek historians as Arakozia, or the "Land of Arako/Alako".
Mullah Naqib, famous freedom fighter during the Soviet–Afghan War, politician and peace maker from Kandahar. He was one of the most respected elders of the Alakozai Pashtun tribe in the Kandahar area.
Abdul Ghani Alakozai, governor of Nadirabad and chieftain of the Durrani, under King Nader Shah.
Juma Khan Alakozai, governor of Kashmir. His administration was faced by serious floods, Shia–Sunni riots and rioting by the Bambas. He died of dysentery in 1792.
Abdullah Khan Alakozai, governor of Kashmir.
Shah Aghasi Nawab Khan Alakozai, governor of Kashmir
Yar Mahomed Khan Alakuzei Minister under King Shahzada Kamran Durrani. Minister-regent at Herat, he served as Vizier of Herat from 1829 to 1842, and was the son of Painda Khan.
Mohammad Khan Azimi, son of Yar Muhammad Khan and minister-regent at Herat. Herat was occupied by Iran from 1852 to 1853.
'Abd al-Ghani Khan Alikozai, governor of Kandahar during Ahmad Shah Durrani's reign.
Zarghuna Begum Alakozai, wife of Governor Sardar Muhammad Zaman Khan of Jalalabad, and daughter of Khalu Khan Alakozai.
