Dard

Dardistan is a region primarily located in the northern areas of Pakistan and Kashmir, inhabited by the Dard peoples. This region encompasses areas such as Chitral, the upper Panjkora River, and the Kohistan of Swat and Gilgit-Baltistan.1

The Dard peoples have a long history, noted by ancient historians like Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy, and Herodotus, who referred to them as Daradae, Daradrae, or Derdae. They speak a group of Indo-Aryan languages collectively known as Dardic languages. Historically, the Dards converted to Islam in the 14th century and utilize a Perso-Arabic script for their languages, including Khowari and Shina. The region itself is diverse, featuring other non-Dardic peoples and languages as well.1