Yidgha language

Yidgha
یدغا
Native toChitral District, Pakistan
EthnicityYidgha
Native speakers
6,000 (2020)[1]
Arabic script (Nastaʿlīq)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3ydg
Glottologyidg1240
ELPYidgha
Linguasphere58-ABD-bb

The Yidgha language (یدغا زڤون) is an Eastern Iranian language of the Pamir group spoken in the upper Lotkoh Valley (Tehsil Lotkoh) of Chitral in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Yidgha is similar to the Munji language spoken on the Afghan side of the border.

The Garam Chashma area became important during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan because the Soviets were unable to stop the flow of arms and men back and forth across the Dorah Pass that separates Chitral from Badakshan in Afghanistan. Almost the entire Munji-speaking population of Afghanistan fled across the border to Chitral during the War in Afghanistan.

  1. ^ a b Yidgha at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon