Afghanization

[ af-gan-uh-zey-shuhn, -guhn- ]

noun

1. a U.S. strategy during the war in Afghanistan of gradually returning political and military control to Afghan forces while withdrawing American troops.
2. a strategy similar to that used by the United States in Afghanistan, in which political and military control is transferred to local authorities:

   the Afghanization of Syria.

3. the assimilation of various ethnic groups in Afghanistan to Pashtun language and society.
4. the movement of a large number of Pashtun, the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan, into areas of the country inhabited by other ethnic groups.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Afghanization¹

First recorded in 1945–50, referring to Soviet involvement in the region; 2005–10 Afghanization fordef 1; 1985–90 Afghanization fordef 3; Afghan ( def ) + -ization ( def )