The Turkmens (, plural Türkmenler/Түркменлер) are a Turkic people located primarily in Central Asia, in the states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Northern Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and North Caucasus (Stavropol Krai). They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western (Oghuz) branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai, Gagauz and Salar. Nevertheless, Turkmen people of Iraq, Syria and other Arab countries (Western Turkmens) are closely related to Turkish and Azerbaijani people rather than Turkmens of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran and other parts of Central Asia (Eastern Turkmens).
