Hazaras were once nomadic herders of sheep, horses, and goats.[1]  However, today many are employed as mixed grain farmers, civil servants, tradesman, and shopkeepers.[2]  Group members speak Hazaragi, a mixed Persian-Mongol tongue, are thought to be of mixed Turkic and Mongol descent,[3] and practice Shia Islam.

Although Hazaras may be considered Afghanistan’s only exclusive ethnic group, because of the years of conflict that have ravaged the country, many have become refugees in neighboring Iran and Pakistan.[4]

Hazara women are not permitted to seek an education, and a maximum of only two years is allowed for a Hazara man to study.  A strict Islamic tradition is followed for schooling, however due to the short nature of education for boys, high illiteracy rates exist.[5] 

Demography

2004 estimates put the population of Pakistan at 152.8 million – not including the 1.2 million refugees from Afghanistan.[6]  There were reportedly 156,794 Hazaras living in Pakistan in 2000.  This data includes recent Afghan refugees.[7]

Geographic Distribution

Hazaras can be found in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, with significant concentrations in Quetta.  They also inhabit the cities of Karachi and Islamabad, as well as some villages in rural areas of Sindh.[8]

The largest number of Hazara Afghan refugees emigrated to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion and occupation that lasted from 1979-1989.[9]

Historic Hardship

In Pakistan, Hazaras speak Farsi or Hazaragi, and have decried the designation of Urdu as the national language for threatening their ethnic identity and employment prospects.[10]  And since only 10 percent of the Hazara population is literate, a member of the group is not expected to understand another language if he or she cannot read or write in their own native tongue.  Consequently, the ability to participate in local government is also compromised.

Hazaras often perform the most menial of jobs, such as collecting trash and carrying water from village to village.  These jobs are not viewed in a positive light by other ethnic groups and Hazaras are disparaged and discriminated against.[11]  They are not respected within their communities and are often only offered the lowliest of positions.  Because of this, Hazaras are among the poorest of all Pakistanis.[12]

Ongoing Hardship

In 2003, a mosque in Quetta was attacked my Sunni militants of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi organization.  Over 60 Shia Hazaras were killed in the assault.  Hazara community leaders asked the Pakistani government to implement bolstered security measures, as Hazaras living in Quetta have become targets of violence due to their Shia faith.  The government has expressed optimism that sectarian tensions will subside as security improves.[13]

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