People group profile · PG023985
The Ishkashimi of Afghanistan
The Ishkashimi of Afghanistan, numbering about 3,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an eastern Iranian Pamiri people of northeastern Afghanistan's Badakhshan region near the Tajikistan border. They speak Ishkashimi, an endangered Pamiri language, and maintain a distinct cultural identity within the Pamir Mountains.
They are an indigenous people in the Tajik people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Imami Ismaili Islam, and they primarily speak Ishkashimi.
Fast facts
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Population
- 3,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Tajik
- Primary language
- Ishkashimi (isk)
- Primary religion
- Shia Imami Ismaili Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Badakhshan province: Ishkashim and Wakham districts; north of Ishkashim in Bahar Bazar, Darwan, Qaz Deh, Xermani, Zargaran, and Zayad villages
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ishkashimi 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 Ishkashimi
- 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
Shia Imami Ismaili Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Ishkashimi · Indo-European family
60% speak Ishkashimi
Gospel resources in Ishkashimi
- 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 Ishkashimi
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Ishkashimi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 116135) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanglech-Ishkashimi | Tajikistan | 1,900 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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