Kohistani

people

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "Kohistani" refers to a people of Turco-Iranian origin who inhabit the mountainous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan known as Kohistan. In Pakistan, this area is found in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, west of Chilas and the Kagan Valley, and extends to the Afghanistan border. It is characterized by outer Himalayan ranges, forested hills, and fertile valleys.12

The Kohistani people primarily raise livestock, such as sheep and goats, and cultivate grains and vegetables. They also speak a Dard language, also called Kohistani. In Afghanistan, "Kohistan" refers to a region north-northeast of Kabul, extending into the Hindu Kush mountains.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

transhumance
…transhumance is that of the Kohistanis of the Swāt area of Pakistan, who range between altitudes of 2,000 and 14,000 feet (600 and 4,300 m). Most Kohistani families possess houses in four or five different settlements, and at any one time of the year nearly the whole population is concentrated…
Read More
…transhumance is that of the Kohistanis of the Swāt area of Pakistan, who range between altitudes of 2,000 and 14,000 feet (600 and 4,300 m). Most Kohistani families possess houses in four or five different settlements, and at any one time of the year nearly the whole population is concentrated…
Read More