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People group profile · PG023974

The Gawar-Bati of Afghanistan

The Gawar-Bati of Afghanistan, numbering about 39,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a subgroup of the larger Dardic ethnic group of northeastern Afghanistan.

They are an indigenous people in the Nuristani people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Gawar-Bati.

Pray for the Gawar-BatiPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Gawar-Bati people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Gawar-Bati

Fast facts

Country
Afghanistan
Population
39,000
Affinity group
Central Asian Peoples
People cluster
Nuristani
Primary language
Gawar-Bati (gwt)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Also known as
Narisati
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Kunar province: Konar river valley. 8 or 9 villages

Where they live

Gospel status

The Gawar-Bati are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Gawar-Bati

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

100% adherents

Primary language

Gawar-Bati · Indo-European family

100% speak Gawar-Bati

Gospel resources in Gawar-Bati

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Gawar-Bati

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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