Unreached Peoples: The Wakhi People of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan

Wahis live in two valleys surrounded by the majestic mountain peaks of North Pakistan. They try to make a living here through growing crops and stock farming. Many years ago they were forced to leave their original home, the Wahan Strip in northeast Afghanistan, because of drought, famine and war.

Colorless houses built of stone blend in with the grey, barren landscape. But the inside of their homes are completely the opposite. They are richly decorated with Persian carpets.

A Wahi house rests on five pillars, representing the five Muslim prophets the Wahi worship. Traditional homes have no furniture or windows, and only one door. The only light comes through the hole in the roof, which acts as a chimney, but which is closed up during the cold winter months.

Each house is the home of an extended family. Traditionally men work in the fields, while the women look after the sheep, goats and yak. Different to other Muslim communities, men and women very often work side by side, helping each other even if the work falls outside the traditional gender roles.

The home of the Wahis for the most part still has a medieval character. Time stands still here. Community life is built on relationships, and most of the daily activities center around strengthening these relationships.

The multi-coloured hat of the Wahi woman is a distinctive feature of their clothing. The Ismaili Muslims are far more liberal, and their women are less covered than other Muslim women. The Wahis are a friendly, warm, welcoming people.

Weaving is a major source of income, and as the Wahi live isolated from others, they also weave all their own clothes. The Wahis are 100% Ismaili Muslims. There is no Bible in their language yet.

The group is completely unreached and totally lost. A lot of prayer is needed to prepare the way here for the Gospel. The door to the Wahis is open, but the darkness is still great.

To reach the Baltis in northernmost Pakistan, you have to travel for several hours on a single lane mountain pass, called the 8th wonder of the world because of its altitude. The area where the Baltis live is uninviting. It has the highest number of mountain peaks in the world, 60 peaks above 7,000 metres and 4 above 8,000 metres.

This is definitely not an area to visit if fear of heights is a problem. The Baltis are dependent upon the glaciers for water, as the rainfall is less than 150 mm per year. The largest glaciers in the world, apart from those in the North and South Pole, are found here.