Kyrgyz in Pakistan

Kyrgyz in Pakistan
Regions with significant populations
Gilgit-Baltistan and northern Kashmir
Languages
Kyrgyz · Urdu
Religion
Sunni Islam

There are several hundred Kyrgyz in Pakistan, most of whom are immigrants based in the northern areas of the country. They have historically inhabited the Gojal valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan's Broghil Pass, situated between Chitral and the Wakhan Corridor, also once had a large resident Kyrgyz community. Some hail from the western town of Uzgen in Osh Province; in addition, many were previously settled in the Little Pamir valley of the Wakhan corridor in Afghanistan. They fled to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Afghan Saur Revolution, leaving much of their wealth and animal herds behind.[1]

During the 1980s, a large number of these (as many as 1,129) Kyrgyz refugees in Pakistan were subsequently allowed asylum and resettlement in eastern Turkey.[2][3]

Up to this day, Kyrgyz farmers and herders from Pamir (Afghanistan) frequently visit the bordering Hunza valley of Pakistan to engage in livestock breeding and limited barter trade with entrepreneurs.[1]

Like other Central Asian expatriates, a large number of Kyrgyz migrants tend to apply for Pakistani nationality and identity cards, often deliberately losing or hiding their passports in the process.[4] According to Pakistani interior officials, they take advantage of their cultural assimilation by introducing themselves as Pakistan-based Pashtuns living in other countries who came to the country to spend vacation and "lost their credentials."[4]

The Kyrgyz in Pakistan have an active involvement in trade and maintain a broad network of business companies in various states, including neighbouring China.[5] They also have played an extensive role in promoting and assisting the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan.[6]

Many of the Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan who fled the 2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots brought back Kyrgyz spouses and families to Pakistan with them.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hermann Kreutzmann (2003) Ethnic minorities and marginality in the Pamirian Knot
  2. ↑ The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir Ride On: Ted Callahan
  3. ↑ http://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-minorities-make-themselves-heard
  4. 1 2 "Illegal immigrants a grave security threat". The Nation. 13 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Pakistani businessman to build natural juice factory in Jalal-Abad: AKIpress News Agency December 8, 2010
  6. ↑ "Kyrgyz from Pakistan intend to assist in development of tourism in the country". Asia Plus (Tajikistan). 31 July 2008.
  7. ↑ "Safe return of Pakistanis from Kyrgyzstan". Critical PPP.
  8. ↑ Tariq Ismail (19 June 2010). "Seeking refuge in Pakistan". The Express Tribune.
  9. ↑ Akhtar Jamal (10 October 2010). "Kyrgyz in Pakistan to vote today". Pakistan Observer.
  10. ↑ Turkey: Kyrgyz Nomads Struggle To Make Peace With Settled Existence

Further reading

External links

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