An "Afghan Beret"

Not a beret, but often referred to as the Afghan beret, is the pakol (also spelled pakul or khapol). Apart from the simple, round shape, the beret and the pakol have more in common. Both hats have their origin with mountain peasants, are made of the same natural material and both hats have been adopted by the military as a practical headdress.

The pakol is a soft, round-topped men's hat, typically of wool (sheep or camel) and found in any range of earthly colors. Before it is fitted, it resembles a bag with a round, flat bottom. The wearer rolls up the sides nearly to the top, forming a thick band, which then rests on the head like a beret or cap.

The pakol gained some attention in the West in the 1980s as a Massoud cap, after the (Tajik) Afghan mujahideen commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, who fought

 the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979–1989).

The hat originated in the Chitral and Gilgit regions of what is now Northern Pakistan. It gained popularity amongst the Northeastern Pashto tribes in the early twentieth century largely as a substitute for their large and cumbersome turbans. It also gained popularity amongst the Nuristanis and the Tajiks of the Pansjir and Badakhshan.

The hat is worn in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In Pakistan, it is particularly popular in the North West Frontier Province and northern areas such as Gilgitand, Hunza and Chitral. It is also worn in some northern regions of Jammu and Kasmir, India, specially by the Dard people.

There are two basic types of pakol. The Chitrali style, which has a sewn brim, and the Gilgiti style which is worn much like a knit cap. The Chitrali pakol has many variations which are popular in the NWFP and Afghanistan.