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Prior to the 18th century, Afghans have served in the militaries of the Ghaznavids ( 963 – 1187 ), Ghurids ( 1148 – 1215 ), Delhi Sultanate ( 1206 – 1527 ) and the Mughal Empire of India ( 1526 – 1858 ) as well as in the army of the Persian Empire.

However, the current Afghan military dates back to when the Pashtun Hotaki dynasty rose to power in Kandahar and decisively defeated the Persian Safavid Empire at the Battle of Gulnabad in 1722.