Ahmad Shah Durrani (also known as Ahmad Shāh Durr-i Durrānī; 1722–1772) was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is considered the father of the modern state of Afghanistan. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Nation" (Persian: پدر ملت, Pashto: پلواک) in Afghanistan. Born in Multan (now in Pakistan), he rose to prominence as a military leader under the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali. In 1747, he was chosen as the chief of the Abdali tribe and subsequently proclaimed as the King of Afghanistan. His reign marked the beginning of the Durrani Empire, which at its height stretched from Khorasan in the west to Kashmir and Punjab in the east, and from the Amu Darya in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south. The Durrani Empire is often considered the forerunner of the modern state of Afghanistan. Ahmad Shah Durrani's military campaigns and political acumen laid the foundation for a unified Afghan state, and his legacy continues to be celebrated in Afghanistan and among the Afghan diaspora. In Hebrew, his name is translated as אחמד שאה דוראני (Ahmad Shah Durrani). In Urdu, he is known as احمد شاہ درانی (Ahmad Shāh Durānī), and in Turkish, he is referred to as Ahmed Şah Durrânî.
