Central Asian Arabic in the context of "Arab diaspora"

The history of Arabs in Afghanistan spans over one millennium since the 7th century beginning with the Islamic expansion all the way until the early 20th century. The Ethnic Arabs of Afghanistan are an ethnic minority making up 1-2% of the country's population. They speak a distinct dialect of Arabic called Central Asian Arabic along with either Dari (Persian) or Pashto. Most of the early Arab communities in Afghanistan gradually lost their native language. However, a number of villages commonly referred to as Qaryeh-ye ʿArabhā (“villages of Arabs”) continue to preserve Arabic as a spoken language. Within these communities, traditional dress, cultural practices, and other markers of Arab heritage have also been retained. In recent years, renewed efforts have emerged to safeguard not only the Arabic language but also the broader Arab identity in Afghanistan, particularly under the current government, reflecting an increased recognition of the cultural and historical significance of this minority population.

Afghan Arabs are still considered a recognisable distinct ethnic group according to the Constitution of Afghanistan. Afghans who carry titles and surnames such as Sayyid, Hashimi, Quraishi, and Tamimi are usually of Arab descent.