List of Afghan Americans
This is a list of Afghan Americans, including both original immigrants from Afghanistan who obtained American nationality and their American descendants. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing that they are Afghan American or must have independent references showing that they are Afghan American and are notable.
Academia and science
- Ali Ahmad Jalali, Distinguished Professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.; former Afghan ambassador to Germany
- Hafiz Sahar, Professor of Journalism in Afghanistan and USA, Fulbright Scholar, Author, Editor-in-Chief of Eslah national newspaper of Afghanistan and author of "Luqman e Hakim" and "Television in Afghanistan"
- Mohammad Qayoumi, former President of San Jose State University
- Nake M. Kamrany, professor at the University of Southern California and economist
- Adib Farhadi, assistant professor at University of South Florida and coordinator of USF's Executive Education Program; the former Afghanistan Deputy Minister of Commerce
- Nazif Shahrani, professor of anthropology at Indiana University
- Ishaq Shahryar, Afghan Ambassador to the United States from 2002 to 2003
Arts and entertainment
- Leena Alam, actress in television, film, and theater, human rights activist
- Sonia Nassery Cole, human rights activist, filmmaker, and author
- Zohra Daoud, television host and Miss Afghanistan 1974
- Josh Gad, actor, comedian, and singer whose father is an Afghan Jew
- Sameer Asad Gardezi, screenwriter and television writer
- Mariam Ghani, multi-media visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, human rights activist; of Afghan–Lebanese descent
- Azita Ghanizada, actress and television host
- Donnie Keshawarz, Canadian-born American stage, film and television actor; of Afghani–Canadian descent
- Mahaley Patel, actress, singer, songwriter; her father is from Afghanistan
- Aman Mojadidi, visual artist
- Annet Mahendru, actress of Indian-Russian descent
- Vida Samadzai, actress, model, Miss Afghanistan 2003, and Beauty for a Cause of Miss Earth 2003
- Jawed Wassel, filmmaker
- Abeal Siddiq, American born actor to parents from Kabul, Afghanistan
Business
- Hafizullah Emadi, independent scholar and development consultant for Focus Humanitarian Assistance
- Masuda Sultan, entrepreneur, international human rights advocate, and memoirist
Literature
- Tamim Ansary, author
- Khaled Hosseini, author of three books including the Kite Runner, activist, humanitarian, and UNHCR goodwill ambassador
Media and journalism
- Hafiz Sahar, Professor of Journalism in Afghanistan and USA, Fulbright Scholar, Author, Editor-in-Chief of Eslah national newspaper of Afghanistan
- Nabil Miskinyar, television anchor for Ariana Afghanistan
- Fariba Nawa, journalist and author
Music
- Sonita Alizadeh, rapper and activist
- Ehsan Aman, musician
- Farhad Darya, musician
- Qader Eshpari, soft rock singer
- Qais Essar, rabab musician, songwriter
- Naim Popal, musician
- Haidar Salim, musician
- Farid Zoland, musician
Politics and civil service
- Ashraf Ghani, 14th President of Afghanistan
- Zalmay Khalilzad, United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation from 2018 to 20211, United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2007 to 2009, United States Ambassador to Iraq from 2005 to 2007, United States Ambassador to Iraq from 2004 to 2005
- Safiya Wazir, New Hampshire State Representative 2018–2022
- Nadia Hashimi, Democratic congressional candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Maryland's 6th congressional district, pediatrician, and novelist
- Safi Rauf, Navy reservist and aid worker held captive by the Taliban
- Laili Helms, former Taliban supporter and public speaker
- Ahmed Wali Karzai, politician in Afghanistan until his death in 2011
- Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, politician, Governor of Herat Province in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010
- Mariam Solaimankhil, member of House of the People from 2019 to 2021
- Stephen J. Townsend, West German-born American four-star general of Afghan–German descent, commanding general of U.S. forces during the War on ISIS / Operation Inherent Resolve
Other
- Wallace Fard Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam, mentor of Elijah Muhammad
- Niloofar Rahmani, former Afghan female pilot
- Shaesta Waiz, Afghan-born pilot and the first female certified civilian pilot, and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft
- Ahmad Khan Rahami, terrorist
- Najibullah Zazi, convicted Al-Qaeda member