Kyrgyz in Pakistan: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Kipchak turkic ethnnolinguistic group in northern Pakistan}} |
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{{Infobox ethnic group |
{{Infobox ethnic group |
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| group = Kyrgyz |
| group = Kyrgyz |
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Revision as of 10:43, 2 August 2022
قیرغیز | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Total population | |
| c. 5,000 (2007)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral | |
| Languages | |
| Kyrgyz Urdu · Shina · Khowar · Pashto | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Uyghurs, Uzbeks, Turkmens |
The Kyrgyz (Kyrgyz: قیرغیز) are a turkic ethnic group native to Wider Central Asia, primarily living in Kyrgyzstan but are also found in Tajikistan, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are several thousand Kyrgyz in Pakistan numbering more than 5,000,[2][3] most of whom live in the northern areas of the country Primarily Upper Chitral District and Gilgit-Baltistan.[4] They have historically inhabited the Gojal valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan's Broghil Pass, situated between Chitral and the Wakhan Corridor, has a large resident Kyrgyz community. Some hail from the town of Uzgen in the west of Kyrgyzstan; in addition, many previously living in the Little Pamir valley of the Wakhan corridor in Afghanistan fled to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Afghan Saur Revolution, leaving much of their wealth and animal herds behind.[5]
During the 1980s, as many as 1,129 Kyrgyz refugees in Pakistan were subsequently allowed asylum and resettlement in eastern Turkey.[6][7]
Up to this day, Kyrgyz farmers and herders from Wakhan frequently visit the bordering Hunza valley of Pakistan to engage in livestock breeding and limited barter trade with entrepreneurs[5]
Like other Central Asian expatriates, many Kyrgyz migrants apply for Pakistani nationality and identity cards, often deliberately losing or hiding their passports in the process.[8] According to Pakistani interior officials, they take advantage of their cultural assimilation by introducing themselves as Pakistani Pashtuns and Kyrgyz living in other countries who came to the country to spend vacation and "lost their credentials."[8]
The Kyrgyz in Pakistan have an active involvement in trade and maintain a broad network of business companies in various states, including neighbouring China.[9] They also have played an extensive role in promoting and assisting the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan.[10]
Many of the Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan who fled the 2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots brought back Kyrgyz spouses and families to Pakistan with them.[11] One of the obstacles faced by their Kyrgyz relatives included registration of travel documents; most did not have proper documentation and some were issued visas by the Federal Investigation Agency for only three days, resulting in people being declared illegal immigrants.[12]
In October 2010, several dozen Kyrgyz nationals, mostly diplomats living in Islamabad and other cities, took part in voting for the parliamentary elections running in Kyrgyzstan. The polling was organised at the local embassy.[13]
Wakhan Kyrgyz refugees
Kyrgyz from Wakhan region of Afghanistan moved to Pakistan in the 1970s. Nearly 1,100 of these were accepted by Turkey to settle in Ulupamir (or “Great Pamir” in Kyrgyz), their resettlement village in Van Province.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Callahan, Ted (2007). "The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir Ride on". Nomadic Peoples. 11 (1): 39–48
- ^ Callahan, Ted (2007-06-30). "The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir Ride On". Nomadic Peoples. 11 (1): 39–48. doi:10.3167/np.2007.110103. ISSN 0822-7942.
- ^ Callahan, Ted. The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir Ride On. OCLC 1053733465.
- ^ "The last Kirghiz khan in Gilgit | Footloose | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ a b "Hermann Kreutzmann (2003) Ethnic minorities and marginality in the Pamirian Knot" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir Ride On: Ted Callahan
- ^ "Afghanistan: Minorities make themselves heard - Afghanistan".
- ^ a b "Illegal immigrants a grave security threat". The Nation. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ Pakistani businessman to build natural juice factory in Jalal-Abad: AKIpress News Agency December 8, 2010
- ^ "Kyrgyz from Pakistan intend to assist in development of tourism in the country". Asia Plus (Tajikistan). 31 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Safe return of Pakistanis from Kyrgyzstan". Critical PPP. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Tariq Ismail (19 June 2010). "Seeking refuge in Pakistan". The Express Tribune.
- ^ Akhtar Jamal (10 October 2010). "Kyrgyz in Pakistan to vote today". Pakistan Observer.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Turkey: Kyrgyz Nomads Struggle To Make Peace With Settled Existence
Further reading
- The Kirghiz and Wakhi of Afghanistan: adaptation to closed frontiers and war, M. Nazif Mohib Shahrani
- The Kyrgyz – Children of Manas. Кыргыздар – Манастын балдары