Additional PDF Profile

Introduction / History

The Pashtun have been called the largest Muslim tribal society in the world. There are at least 30 major tribes, and countless sub-tribes and clans. Spread over a vast geographical area and driven by socio-economic, political, tribal and linguistic (dialectical) differences, Pashtuns nevertheless share a unique sense of common identity. Pashtun identity is based on four elements: Heritage (descent from a common ancestor); Islam (99.9% Muslim); the Pashtunwali Code of Honor ("The Way of the Pashtun"); and to some extent, Language (Pakhtu or Pashto).

The Pashtun are the largest people group among Afghanistan's peoples. More significant than dialectical differences, a Pashtun's primary loyalty is to his particular social group (tribe or sub-tribe). That includes the Northern Pashtun, which is more of a grouping of languages.

Afghan Pashtuns are left with three poor choices. Get radicalized like the Taliban government, face despair, or move to a different country. Northern Pashtuns are in 16 countries today, including Turkey.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Since the late 1970s, Pashtuns have been starting anew in Turkey. By this time there are Pashtuns who are very acculturated, and they are very different than their elders who arrived in previous decades. Some are "Turkifying" their names to blend in. Those who aren't able to find jobs are often deported, or they leave voluntarily.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Whether they are new in foreign countries or they have never been to the original Pashtun homeland, Pashtuns almost always identify themselves as Muslims. They will be married in a mosque, and to be associated with another religious system would be unacceptable in their community. Those who want to take Christ to the Pashtuns will need to do just that; take Christ to them, not a religious system.

The Pashtunwali Code of Honor erodes among Pashtuns who live in urban settings. Some of them have only a weak identity as Pashtuns. They need to find their identity in the Savior who loves them and wants them to be transformed into His likeness.

What Are Their Needs?

No one knows how many Pashtuns are following Jesus. Seeds of the Gospel have been sown widely. The greatest barriers to faith are social and cultural, leaving us with the challenge of allowing Pashtuns to embrace Christ while keeping their culture and traditions.

Prayer Items

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Pashtuns Diaspora that will spread far and wide.
Pray for the production and distribution of all forms of media in the Pashto language for the Pashtun Diaspora.
Pray for more workers to live among the Pashtuns in Turkey and work beside them, giving them the opportunity to tell them about Jesus Christ, the Savior of all nations.
Pray for God's Spirit to strengthen and protect new believers and to empower them to take Christ to other Pashtun communities.

Scripture Prayers for the Pashtun, Northern in Türkiye (Turkey).

References

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiele/comments/1ah5dvv/afghans_in_turkey_are_turkifiying_their_names/