The Hotaki were an Afghan tribe and dynasty that ruled over Afghanistan, most of Iran, and northwestern parts of Pakistan from 1722 to 1729, after defeating the Persian Safavid dynasty. The Hotaki dynasty was founded in 1709 by Mirwais Hotak, chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns of Kandahar who led a successful revolution against the Persian Safavids. After the death of Mirwais in November 1715, the monarchy passed on to his brother Abdul Aziz followed by their sons until the dynasty finally ended in 1738 when Nader Shah and his Afsharids of Khorasan defeated Hussain Hotaki at his Kandahar fortress.... Kandahar province was captured and ruled by the Shi'a Safavids during the early 18th century but the native Afghan tribes living in the area were Sunni Muslims. immediately to the east began the Sunni Moghul Empire of India, who occasionally fought wars with the Safavids over the territory of Kandahar. In 1704, the Safavid Shah Husayn appointed George XI , who had converted to Islam. Gurgin began imprisoning and executing many Afghans, especially those suspected of organizing rebellions.
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