The British gained control of this territory around 1895, but left in 1947 when Pakistan became an independent nation. Yet, the Pushtun have dominated the Kohistani for years, either buying their land or forcing them out with violence.

Today, there are several different ethnic groups living in the Kohistan region that are subgroups of the Kohistani people. They include the Turvali, the Bateri, the Galo, the Rajkoti, and the Kohistani themselves. The tribes speak several distinct Dardic dialects, but their main language of communication is Pashto, the language of the dominant Pushtun ethnic group. The Kohistani have been described as a powerful, well-built, brave, but quiet people.

What Are Their Lives Like?
The Kohistani tribes are located in the narrow valleys formed by the tributaries of the Indus, where irrigation is possible. Since the Indus River flows through a steep rocky gorge, it is useless for irrigation. The people are primarily farmers and shepherds. Grain is planted on terraced fields and bulls are used for plowing. There is very little rain, so the crops are irrigated by water channels known as kuhls, which require constant and skillful management.

In the areas that are irrigated by the kuhls, the Kohistani raise barley, wheat, maize, millet, and rice, supplemented by potatoes and a variety of other vegetables. Since they can only grow one annual crop, the people rely on the "transhumant" herding of their dairy goats and cattle. This means that they transfer their livestock from one grazing ground to another with the changing of seasons. During the summer months, they leave their permanent villages and drive the cattle, goats, and sheep to alpine pastures.

The surrounding mountain ranges and the Afghanistan border tend to isolate the Kohistani. Most of their settlements exist as small independent communities, located at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,500 meters. Families usually have houses in four or five different locations at the higher altitudes. Only in the winter do they live together in their compact villages, which lie along the rivers.

Kohistani villages are made up of several lineages. In addition to farmers, a village population normally includes blacksmiths and carpenters who are bilingual in Pashto. There are also a number of tenant farmers and hired farm laborers.

The Kohistani generally practice endogamy, meaning that they only marry within their own groups. Their societies are also patrilineal, which means that the line of descent is traced through the males. The women are not secluded, as is customary among many other Muslim groups, because they are needed to help with the farm work.

The opening of the Karakoram Highway, which follows the Indus River Valley, has had the greatest economic impact on the Kohistani society. Although the extensive road-building project is providing them with greater access to the mainstream of Pakistani society, it is also encouraging the influx of Pushtun from farther south. There is a growing resentment among the Kohistani toward the Pushtun, who dominate bureaucracy in the district government. However, the government of Pakistan has created the Kohistan district in order to give the Indus Kohistani their own administrative area.

What Are Their Beliefs?
Centuries ago, the area of northern Pakistan was primarily Buddhist. Later, Buddhism was replaced by Hinduism. However, around 1000 A.D., the Islamic faith penetrated the region. At that time, the Kohistani converted from their polytheistic Aryan beliefs to Sunni (orthodox) Islam.

Traces of traditional, pre-Islamic beliefs still linger in a few areas. Some of the tribes practice shamanism. They believe that there is an unseen world of gods, demons, fairies, and ancestral spirits. They depend on shamans (priests or priestesses) to cure the sick by magic, communicate with the gods, and control events.

What Are Their Needs?
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as its name denotes, does not promote freedom of religion. The country is currently closed to Christianity and is opposed to the presence of missionaries there. At the present time, none of the Kohistani tribes have the Scripture in their language. Among the Rajkoti, Galo, and Turvali, there are no known believers. Fervent intercession and further evangelistic efforts must be made in order to help turn the hearts of the Kohistani toward the Truth.

• Pray that the Lord will raise up laborers who are willing to invest long term service to the Kohistani of Pakistan.
• Pray that the Pakistani Christians will gain a vision to see the people of the Kohistan area reached with the Gospel.
• Pray that the Pakistani government will be favorable toward Christians and will allow them to freely preach the Gospel.
• Pray for cooperation among missions agencies that are targeting these tribes.
• Pray that God will raise up linguists to translate the Word of God into each of the tribal languages.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping these tribes bound.
• Ask God to send medical teams and humanitarian aid workers to minister to the Kohistani.
• Pray that strong local churches will be planted among each of these tribes.

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Bethany World Prayer Center
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