The
Aimak (or
Eimak) are
nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes of
Mongolian stock inhabiting the north and north-west
Afghan highlands immediately to the north of
Herat. They were originally known as
chahar (the four) Eimaks, because there were four principal
tribes: the
Taimani[?] (the predominating element in the population of
Ghur[?]), the
Ferozkhoi[?], the
Jamshidi[?] and, according to some authorities, the
Hazara. The Aimak peoples number upwards of a quarter of a million, and speak a dialect said to be closely related to the
Kalmuck[?]. They are
Sunnite Muslims in distinction from the Hazara who are
Shiites. They are predominantly of
Iranian or quasi-Iranian blood, while the Hazara are
Turanian[?]. They are a bold, wild people and renowned fighters.
The name is Mongolian for clan, or section of a tribe.
(from an old encyclopedia)