Introduction / History Ishkashimi is an Iranian language. There are only a couple thousand people who still speak it, and most likely it will be an extinct language by the end of the 21st century.
Where are they located? The Ishkashimi language is spoken in the Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan, and the Chitral region of Pakistan.
What are their lives like? Like the other people groups in their part of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the Ishkashimi speakers are farmers and livestock herders.
What are their beliefs? The primary religion practiced by Sanglech-Ishkashimi speakers is Shi 'ite Islam, one of two major denominations of Islam. They live among mainly Sunni Muslims. There is often hostility between the two sectors of Islam.
What are their needs? People who speak this language live in a place where almost everyone is Muslim, usually Sunni. There are few gospel materials in their language, although there are gospel recordings that have been produced.
Prayer Points Pray that Ishkashimi speakers will soon hear and respond to the gospel in their heart language.
Pray for them to have a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the Risen Savior.
Pray for workers to go to them and disciple them in the ways of Jesus. * Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people group's primary language. * Pray for the availability of the Jesus Film in the primary language of this people.
Badakhshan province: Ishkashim and Wakham districts; north of Ishkashim in Bahar Bazar, Darwan, Qaz Deh, Xermani, Zargaran, and Zayad villages. (Source: Ethnologue 2016)
JP Unreached of Day
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