Balti people

Baltis
Balti children photographed in Tarishing, Gilgit−Baltistan in September 2008
Total population
c. 393,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan
Ladakh, India[2]
Languages
Balti, Hindi–Urdu
Religion
Islam
(predominantly Shia Islam,[3] small minorities of Noorbakshia Sufi Islam and Sunni Islam in Pakistan and India[4])
Related ethnic groups
Tibetans, Purigpas, Ladakhis, Dardic

The Baltis are a Tibetic ethnic group who are native to the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit−Baltistan and the Indian-administered territory of Ladakh, predominantly in the Kargil district with smaller concentrations present in the Leh district. Outside of the Kashmir region, Baltis are scattered throughout Pakistan, with the majority of the diaspora inhabiting prominent urban centres such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

  1. ^ Ahmed, Musavir (29 January 2021). "Balti: Protecting the language". Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ^ "In pictures: Life in Baltistan". BBC News. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  3. ^ Bakshi, S.R. (1997). Kashmir: History and People. Sarup & Sons. p. 186. ISBN 978-81-85431-96-3.
  4. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 31 May 2021.

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