Kurds in Pakistan

Ethnic group

Ethnic group

Kurds in Pakistan

Kurdên li Pakistanê

Total population
~234,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Islamabad * Karachi
Languages
Mostly:
Kurdish * Urdu
Others:
Turkish * Arabic (Kurdish dialects)
Religion
Islam
(Sunni Muslim, but also Shia Muslim)
Related ethnic groups
Other Iranic peoples

Part of a series on

Kurdish history and Kurdish culture

People

* List of Kurds

Population

* Homeland

* Kurdistan
* Turkey (Northern Kurdistan)
* Iran (Eastern Kurdistan)
* Iraq (Southern Kurdistan)
* Syria (Western Kurdistan)

* Diaspora

* Belgium
* Canada
* Caucasia (Armenia) (Azerbaijan) (Georgia)
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Iraq
* Iran
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Lebanon
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Palestine
* Pakistan
* Russia (Chechnya)
* Syria
* Sweden
* Turkmenistan
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* United States

History

* Timeline of Kurdish uprisings

Ancient

Karduchian dynasties

Corduene
Zabdicene
Cyrtians
Moxoene

* Kayusids

Medieval

* Shahrizor
* Mir Jafar Dasni
* Aishanids
* Daisam
* Shaddadids
* Rawadids
* Hasanwayhids
* Annazids
* Marwanids
* Hadhabani
* Hazaraspids
* Ayyubids
* Zands
* Badlis
* Ardalan
* Badinan
* Soran
* Mokryan
* Baban

Modern

* Kurdistansky Uyezd
* Kurdish rebellions during World War I
* Simko Shikak revolt
* Koçgiri Rebellion
* Ararat rebellion
* Dersim Rebellion
* Kingdom of Kurdistan
* Kurdish Republic of Ararat
* Republic of Mahabad
* Al-Anfal campaign
* Kurdish Republic of Lachin
* Iraqi Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region)
* Iranian Kurdistan
* Turkish Kurdistan
* Syrian Kurdistan

Culture

* Clothing
* Cuisine
* Celebrations
* Dance
* Flag
* Folklore
* Historical sites
* Literature
* Music
* Organisations
* Philosophers

Languages

* Kurmanji
* Sorani
* Xwarin
* Zaza
* Laki
* Gorani

Religion

* Islam
* Spread
* Christianity
* Judaism
* Shabakism
* Yarsanism
* Yazdânism
* Yazidism
* Zoroastrianism

* v
* t
* e

Kurds in Pakistan (Kurdish: Kurdên li Pakistanê; Urdu: پاکستان میں کُرد) refers to people of Kurdish origin residing in Pakistan. They are a small population consisting mainly of expatriates and transient migrants, most of whom arrived following the start of the Gulf War in Iraq in 1990. As of 2022, there around 234,000 Kurds in Pakistan.[1]

## Demographics

[edit]

External videos

PAKISTAN: POLICE TEAR GAS KURDISH REFUGEES.

As many as 4,000-5,000 Kurds, originating from Iraqi Kurdistan, migrated to Pakistan in the early 1990s when the Gulf War broke out in Iraq.[2] A large number of them were based in Islamabad.[3] As of 2013, up to 240 Iraqi Kurds were still living in the country.[2] The majority of them were secondary migrants and asylum seekers, and were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operating in Pakistan.[2] Among them is a younger generation which is born in Pakistan.[4] Over the years, these transient migrants have been able to obtain immigration and have resettled in other countries in Europe and North America, with the help of the UNHCR.[2]

As Pakistan is not a signatory of the 1951 refugee convention, most Kurdish migrants are not able to acquire Pakistani citizenship. Due to their legal status, many tend to face social challenges relating to economic constraints, finding employment, healthcare, resettlement and other services.[2] Members of the Kurdish community have raised their concerns with the UNHCR and other authorities, calling for the addressing of such issues.[5][2]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Rez Gardi, New Zealand lawyer and human rights activist[6]
* Benazir Bhutto, Pakistani politician, Prime Minister of Kurdish origin[7]
* Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani Writer
* Murtaza Bhutto, Pakistani politician and leader of al-Zulfiqar, a Pakistani left-wingmilitant organization
* Nusrat Bhutto, public figure of Kurdish origin, who served as spouse of the Prime Minister of Pakistan between 1971 until the 1977 coup, and as a senior member of the federal cabinet between 1988 and 1990.
* Shahnawaz Bhutto, son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1971 to 1977 and Begum Nusrat Bhutto, who was of Iranian Kurdish descent
* Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, Pakistani visual artist, performance artist and curator.
* Nahid Mirza, aristocrat who became the first lady of Pakistan from 1956 to 1958
* Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistani politician and the current chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

## See also

[edit]

* Kurdistan portal
* Pakistan portal

* Kurdish diaspora
* Kurdish refugees
* Immigration to Pakistan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b {{cite web |url=https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/kurdistan/050520229
2. ^ a b c d e f "Iraqi refugees – leading an uncertain life". Dawn. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
3. ^ "Pakistani forces raided on Kurdish refugees". Kurdsat. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
4. ^ Ember, Carol R.; Ember, Melvin; Skoggard, Ian (2005). Encyclopedia of Diasporas: Immigrant and Refugee Cultures Around the World. Volume I: Overviews and Topics; Volume II: Diaspora Communities. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1005\. ISBN 9780306483219.
5. ^ "Iraqi refugees protest against UNHCR". Dawn. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
6. ^ "National Portrait: Rez Gardi, lawyer, resettled refugee, outstanding young New Zealander". 17 February 2017.
7. ^ "Begum Nusrat Bhutto".

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish population

Asia|

| Traditional Kurdish areas|

* Iran
* Khorasan
* Iraq
* Syria
* Turkey

|

* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Georgia
* Israel
* Jews
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Lebanon
* Palestine
* Pakistan
* Russia
* Turkmenistan

Europe|

* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Portugal
* Russia
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

North America|

* Canada
* United States

* v
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Immigration to Pakistan

Americas|

* Americans
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Asia|

| South Asia|

* Afghans
* Bengalis
* Rohingya
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* Indians
* Maldivians
* Nepalis

|

Rest of Asia|

* Arabs
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* Yemenis
* Armenians
* Chinese (Uyghurs)
* Filipinos
* Indonesians
* Iranians
* Japanese
* Kurds
* Tajiks
* Turks
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Europe|

* Britons
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* Russians

Africa|

* Somalis

Oceania|

* Australians

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