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The Sanglech-Ishkashimi of Tajikistan

The Sanglech-Ishkashimi of Tajikistan, numbering approximately 1,900 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are one of the seven Pamiri peoples of Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan region, descended from ancient Saka and Tocharian tribes that inhabited the Pamir Mountains as early as the seventh century BC. They mostly adhere to Shia Islam and Ishkashimi is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Sanglech-Ishkashimi

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Persian-Median Peoples
Country: Tajikistan
People Cluster: Tajik
Primary Language(s): Ishkashimi (isk)
Primary Religion(s): Shia Islam
Population: 1,900
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG024526
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Pray for the Sanglech-Ishkashimi of Tajikistan

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Shia Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

98%
%
Shia Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ishkashimi
Language Family: Indo-European

80%
%
Ishkashimi Speakers

Media Resources in Ishkashimi:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Ishkashimi:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Ishkashimi bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Sanglech-Ishkashimi are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Sanglech-Ishkashimi:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Sanglech-Ishkashimi of Tajikistan

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
readColossians 3:5-6

Pray for God to have mercy and give those who don't yet know Him the gift of Jesus and His salvation for all who call upon His name.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
read2 Timothy 2:2

Pray that the lost will come to faith in Christ and be discipled in the truth of the gospel, becoming faithful followers of Jesus who, in turn, make disciples themselves.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
readColossians 2:6-7

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will be rooted and built up in Him, abounding in thanksgiving for the grace and mercy He has shown them.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
readEphesians 6:12

Ask God to give those He sends to cross cultures the discernment they need to recognize the spiritual battle they are fighting. Pray God will protect their faith as they abide in Him.

Ishkashimi Across Countries (ROP3 - 116135) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

2 people groups

Photo People Group ID Name Country Population ▼ Strategic Progress Index Language Religion
Ishkashimi PG023985 Ishkashimi Afghanistan 3,000 Unengaged and Unreached Ishkashimi Shia Imami Ismaili Islam
Sanglech-Ishkashimi PG024526 Sanglech-Ishkashimi Tajikistan 1,900 Engaged yet Unreached Ishkashimi Shia Islam

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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