Pashtun Kakar in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Pashtun are probably the largest tribal people in the world. The Kakar are a sub-group of the Pashtun, and they mostly live in west central Pakistan near the Afghan border. A smaller group have migrated to India. Pashtun are called Pathan in India. Pashtun are the second largest ethnic group in Pakistan. Arab-funded madrassas (religious schools) throughout Pakistan, became the seedbed for the rise of the Taliban movement. Driven by a combination of religious zeal and Pashtun nationalism, and fueled by Arab money, the "Taliban" (a term for "religious students") imposed a harsh, hyper-conservative (Wahhabi) version of Islam on Afghanistan. Instability, endemic corruption, and on-going violence have led to widespread disillusionment—and the migration of tens of thousands of Pashtuns seeking jobs and opportunities outside of their homeland. The Kakar speak Southern Pashto, one of the two major Pashtun languages. Pashtun people in India usually speak Urdu as their first language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

A Pashtun's primary loyalty is to his particular social group (tribe or sub-tribe). Kakars are sons of Gharghashti who was either the son or grandson of Qais Abdul Rashid, the legendary patriarch of the Pashtun. Pashtuns share a common descent; the Islamic religion; the Pashtunwali Code of Honor; and to some extent, language (Pashto). The greatest evil for the Pashtun is to bring shame upon one's family, clan or tribe. The Pashtun, especially the rural ones, live and die based on their code of honor. Tens of thousands of Pashtuns have departed from Pakistan seeking a better life in Europe, the Persian Gulf nations and the West. Many Kakar have moved to urban areas and taken up jobs in construction, factories, the oil industry, and retail. The traditional occupations of the Pashtun in Pakistan are agriculture and animal husbandry. One could almost say that a third profession of the Pashtun is warfare. They have been fighting outsiders and among themselves for centuries. Every Pashtun man considers himself a warrior. The life of a Pashtun woman depends upon where she lives. In the countryside, women follow the traditional role of being a wife and caretaker for her children. In cities, women are more likely to obtain an education and work outside of the home. A man may have up to four wives in Islam if he can afford them. Most men marry only one wife. Young people marry within their clan. Children, especially boys, are seen as a blessing from Allah.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Pashtun Kakar are Sunni Muslims, the largest branch of Islam. Being a Muslim is viewed an essential part of the Kakar's identity. Kakar try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. Sunnis believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. If a Kakar becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, he or she will face persecution from his or her family and tribe. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kakar need to hear and understand the life-saving message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life. Rural Kakar Pashtun have an oral culture. Most rural women and many men are unable to read and write. These people would benefit from better access to modern medicine and education.


Prayer Points

Pray for wide availability for Southern Pashto language radio programs. Pray that Kakar families will be led to listen to these programs. Pray for an openness to the gospel among Kakar elders and leaders. Ask the Lord to raise up a church planting movement among the Pashtun Kakar in Pakistan in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Pashtun Kakar in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pashtun Kakar
People Name in Country Pashtun Kakar
Alternate Names
Population this Country 1,444,000
Population all Countries 1,993,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 29
PeopleID3 22188
ROP3 Code 119206
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 7
Largest States
Balochistan
1,091,000
Sindh
206,000
Punjab
114,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
29,000
Azad Kashmir
1,800
Islamabad
1,700
Gilgit-Baltistan
300
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 7
  Balochistan 1,091,000
  Sindh 206,000
  Punjab 114,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 29,000
  Azad Kashmir 1,800
  Islamabad 1,700
  Gilgit-Baltistan 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Pashto, Southern (664,000 speakers)
Language Code pbt   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Pashto, Central
555,000
Urdu
47,000
Saraiki
45,000
Sindhi
43,000
Pashto, Northern
27,000
Punjabi, Western
21,000
Balochi, Eastern
9,900
Waneci
2,000
Hindko, Northern
1,800
Hindko, Southern
1,400
Dhatki
1,300
Balochi, Western
1,100
Pahari-Potwari
800
Shina, Kohistani
200
Khowar
50
Primary Language Pashto, Southern (664,000 speakers)
Language Code pbt   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Pashto, Central 555,000
  Urdu 47,000
  Saraiki 45,000
  Sindhi 43,000
  Pashto, Northern 27,000
  Punjabi, Western 21,000
  Balochi, Eastern 9,900
  Waneci 2,000
  Hindko, Northern 1,800
  Hindko, Southern 1,400
  Dhatki 1,300
  Balochi, Western 1,100
  Pahari-Potwari 800
  Shina, Kohistani 200
  Khowar 50
People Groups Speaking Pashto, Southern

Primary Language:  Pashto, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2011-2019)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Pashto Radio General / Other
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Pashto, Southern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible app: Afghan Pashto Bible General / Other
Photo Source Peretz Partensky - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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