Kazakh in Afghanistan

Introduction / History

The Kazakhs, a Turkic people, are the second largest Muslim people group in Central Asia. In times past, they may have been the most influential of the various Central Asian ethnic groups.

The Kazakhs developed a distinct ethnic identity in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Several of their clans formed a federation that would provide mutual protection. As other clans joined the federation, its political influence began to take on an ethnic character. During the nineteenth century, the Russians acquired Central Asia through a steady process of annexation. They eventually claimed the entire territory of Kazakhstan. Tragically, about half of the Kazakh population was killed during the Russian Civil War of the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, many fled to China and Mongolia and a few landed in Afghanistan.

Most Kazakhs live in Kazakhstan. Large communities can also be found in Mongolia, Ukraine and Russia. There is a small Kazakh community in Afghanistan that is growing smaller. The remaining Kazakhs in Afghanistan live in rural areas or the city of Mazar-e Sharif.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In rural areas, Kazakhs often live in dome-shaped felt tents called yurts. These portable dwellings could be taken down and moved from area to area as needed. Most have Uzbek neighbors.

Kazakhs eat a variety of meat and dairy products. A popular Kazakh food is besbarmak, which is eaten with your hands. It is made of noodles, potatoes, onions and mutton. Rice and bread are common staples.

The foundation of Kazakh culture is hospitality, which always starts with a cup of tea. The host offers tea to any person who comes to his house. Guests must accept the kindness, or the host will be offended.

A favorite sport is kokpar which means "fighting for a goat's carcass." That sport is popular throughout Central Asia.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Kazakhs embraced Islam during the sixteenth century and still consider themselves Muslim today. Their Islamic practices have been combined with traditional folk religions.

Traditional Kazakh folk religion includes beliefs in spirits. They practice animism and ancestor worship. Animism is the belief that non-human objects have spirits. Ancestor worship involves praying and offering sacrifices to deceased ancestors. Kazakhs continue to consult shamans (priests who cure the sick by magic, communicate with the spirits, and control events). They also practice various traditional rituals before and after marriage, at birth, and at death.

What Are Their Needs?

Kazakhs in Afghanistan feel a need to guard their language and culture. They are small in number, living in a repressive government. Most also speak Dari or Pashtu, key languages in Afghanistan, but they are trying to teach their children the language and culture of the Kazakhs. They can be punished for playing the traditional dombra. Afghans have taken their land away.

Though there is an emerging Kazakh church in Kazakhstan, it hasn t reached them in Afghanistan. They will need to obtain Christian materials through the internet.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to make a way for Kazakhs in Afghanistan to hear and embrace the gospel.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among Kazakhs that will draw them to the only savior.
Pray for the Lord to give dreams and visions to Kazakh family leaders that will open their hearts to Jesus Christ.
Pray for a movement to Christ among Kazakhs in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Text Source:   Joshua Project