Zarghona Anna (died 1772),[1] also written as Zarghona Anaa, was an Afghan poet.[2] [3] She was the mother of Ahmad Shah Durrani (r. 1747–1772).[4] Her mausoleum is located in the Kohak village of Arghandab District in southern Kandahar Province of Afghanistan, a short distance to the west of Baba Wali Kandhari's historical site.[5]
Zarghona Anna was married to Seman Khan. Her son took control of the Afghan throne in Kandahar in 1747. She was active as a poet, and enjoyed great respect for her ability as a poet and her strict adherence to the Pashtunwali moral code.[6] She is known to have had great influence over the affairs of state through her son; she controlled Kandahar and acted as a mediator in Pashtun tribal conflicts in place of her son when he was on military campaign.[7] A number of high schools in Afghanistan are named in her honor.