Pathan is a Hindi-Urdu term commonly used to refer to the Pashtun people, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the second largest in Pakistan. It may also refer to the following communities: Pathans of Bihar. Pathans of Gujarat.

The Pathans of Bihar in India are said to have settled in the region from the 13th century CE onwards. These Pashtun people are known asPathan in the Hindustani language. Another common name for the community is Khan, which also a common surname. Lohani Pashtuns ruled a princely state within Bihar.[1]

The name Pathan in Bihar refers to two distinct but related communities, the Nasli (from the Arabic word nasl, meaning racial or by birth) and Divani (from the Arabic word diwan, meaning a royal court). The former are descendents of various Pashtun settlers in Bihar, while the latter areRajput and Bhumihar converts to Islam.[2] They are considered one of the Ashraf communities meaning they have a powerful status among the Muslims of the state.[3] Ruhella Pathans are significant landowners in the southern part of the state and formed a militia with Rajputs called the Sunlight Sena to combat Maoist insurgents.

Sher Shah Suri was born in Rohtas district.