An Overview of Christianity and the Pashto Language

Christianity in Afghanistan has a long but largely hidden history. It is believed that Christianity reached the region during the early centuries AD, particularly through the spread of Nestorian Christianity, which was present along trade routes such as the Silk Road. Historical records suggest that Christian communities existed in Afghanistan, especially in the eastern and northern regions, during the time of the Sassanian Empire and under early Islamic rule. However, with the rise of Islam in the 7th century, the majority of the population in Afghanistan converted to Islam, and Christianity virtually disappeared, leaving only a few Christian minorities, primarily from missionary activities, to survive under a strict Islamic regime.

In modern times, Christian missionary efforts in Afghanistan have been limited due to the country’s strong Islamic identity and restrictive laws against conversion. However, there have been small underground Christian communities, primarily consisting of Pashto-speaking Afghan refugees who fled to neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran, where they were exposed to Christianity. The Bible has been translated into Pashto, but it remains difficult to distribute openly within Afghanistan due to the risk of persecution for both converts and missionaries. Christianity remains an extremely minority faith, with Afghan Christians facing significant challenges, including the threat of persecution from both the state and society. Despite these challenges, there is a quiet but ongoing presence of Christianity in the Pashto-speaking regions of Afghanistan, mainly through clandestine networks.