The Mashwani (also Moshwani, Mishwani, Miswani) are a tribal group, living predominantly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The progenitor of the Mashwanis was a Syed, that is a descendant of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, Sayed Muhammad Hamzah married a Pashtun woman of Kakar Tribe and he has a son name Sayed Masud (Moshwani). While Verdak and Honey from an another woman of Pushtoon Tribe and Sherani. Since the Pashtun lineage traditionally stems from the father, this tribe is not recognised as Pashtun according to Pashtunwali. Mashwanis names frequently have the prefix "Syed", meaning belonging to the family of Muhammad.

They are well settled in large numbers in the district of Haripur N.W.F.P of Pakistan and in Dir. They are still good in numbers around Kabul and more than one hundred families in Gandghar. Also they are settled in Daccan Hyderabad of India Mashwanis are brave people with some great history. They have played a brave role against Sikhs and British with Pashtun tribes of the region like Swatis, Tareens, Shalmani, and Jadoons. People like Salim Shah Mashwani, who was martyred by Sikhs, are heroes of Pashtuns.

Their spoken language is Pashto and some of the famous Khels and susbsections are Lodin, Matkani, Roghani, Kazyooni, Ghareeb, Yousafkhel, Moosakhel, Adamkhel, Sakhar, Hasanhhel (Sindh), Azadkhel, Murjankhel, Bhatal, Amanikhel, Janikhel, Rahati and more.

Syed Umer Khetab of District Haripur Gallai has researched for the last 30-35 years how the Moshwani came to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

External links

• Sirikot village and its history

Pashtun tribes