Hindkowans (
Urdu: ) are an ethno-linguistic subgroup of
Punjabi people native to the
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,
Pothohar Plateau and
Azad Kashmir regions. Hindkowans have mixed origins and almost all speak the
Hindko dialect of
Punjabi. They were originally settled in the northern regions of Pakistan primarily concentrated near the
Pakistan-
Afghanistan border. At present, Hindkowans mainly inhabit
Peshawar,
Nowshera,
Swabi,
Mansehra,
Abbottabad,
Haripur and
Attock. Those who live in
Afghanistan are known as
Hindkis. Most of the Tribes residing in Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as;
Tareen,
Tanoli,
Jadoon,
Tahirkheli,
Dilazak,
Mashwani,
Swatis and Utmanzais, despite having Pashtun descent, speak Hindko and constitute an integral part of Hindkowans. Those who resides in urban centers of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan such as:
Peshawar,
Kohat, Nowshera and Swabi are alternatively termed as "Kharian/Kharay" or
city-dweller. Some Hindkowans have left the region and now live in other parts of South Asia, such as; Indian-controlled
Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistani-controlled
Azad Kashmir.
Gohar Ayub Khan (former speaker of Pakistan National Assembly) says:
- "Speaking Hindko doesn't mean that the ethnic identity of Hazara Pakhtuns (Hindkowans) has changed. Many of them (Hindko Speakers) are Pakhtuns and demanding their separate province on administrative grounds."