Yashkuns
{{Short description|Subgroup of Shina people}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
The Yashkun People or Yashkuns (Shina: یشکن) are a sub-group of the Shina, a Dardic-speaking ethnic group, most of whom reside in the Gilgit division of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral and Kohistan districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Amber Marie |title=An odontometric investigation of biological origins and affinities of the Yashkuns of Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Pakistan |url=https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/c534fr62c?locale=en |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=scholarworks.calstate.edu |language=English}} They speak a Dardic language called Shina and are scattered throughout northern Pakistan. Most researchers assert that the Yashkun were immigrants to northern Pakistan from Central Asia. However, other authorities maintain that the Yashkuns were indigenous to northern Pakistan.{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Stephen R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABC3kg5gX4QC&pg=PA3 |title=Saving Biodiversity for Human Lives in Northern Pakistan |date=2006 |publisher=IUCN |isbn=978-969-8141-86-8 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Amber Marie |title=An odontometric investigation of biological origins and affinities of the Yashkuns of Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Pakistan |url=https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/c534fr62c?locale=en |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=scholarworks.calstate.edu |language=English}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Yashkuns
| native_name = یشکنز
| native_name_lang = scl
| popplace = Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Kohistan
| religions = File:Star and Crescent.svg Islam
| related_groups = Other Dardic People
}}
History
McCrindle claims Yashkuns descend from the ancient tribe of Aśvakan/Aśvakas (Kambojas).{{Cite journal|last=O. C.|date=April 1893|title=V. Notices of Books - The Invasion of India by Alexander the Great, as described by Arrian, Q. Curtius, Diodôros, Plutarch, Justin, and other classical Authors. With an Introduction, containing a Life of Alexander, copious Notes, Illustrations, Maps, and Indices. By J. W. M'Crindle. 8vo. Pp. xii. and 432. London : Archibald Constable and Co., Westminster. 1893.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0035869x0017039x|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|volume=25|issue=2|pages=406–407|doi=10.1017/s0035869x0017039x|s2cid=250352190 |issn=0035-869X}} Some Yashkuns live in the Hindu Kush region where the Kambojas once ruled.{{Cite journal|last=Grierson|first=G. A.|date=July 1911|title=The Language of the Kambōjas|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0035869x00041988|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society|volume=43|issue=3|pages=801–802|doi=10.1017/s0035869x00041988|s2cid=163447486 |issn=1356-1863}} As Dardic Shina they are related to other indigenous groups such as the Pashai{{Cite book|last=Georg|first=Morgenstierne|url=https://worldcat.org/oclc/928960516|title=Indo-Iranian frontier languages. the Pashai language : vocabulary|date=1956|oclc=928960516}} and Nuristânis (Kafiristanis).{{Citation|last=Degener|first=Almuth|title=The Nuristani languages|date=2003-01-23|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197262856.003.0004|work=Indo-Iranian Languages and Peoples|publisher=British Academy|doi=10.5871/bacad/9780197262856.003.0004 |isbn=978-0-19-726285-6|access-date=2021-07-29}}
The Yashkun share etymological connections with the Askunu of Nuristan and the Asawan caste found in Indian kamboj.
genetically yashkons have 73.68 percent west eaursaian dna H(29.47) T (13.68)M(13.68)
Demography
The Yashkuns form the majority of the population in Gor (Goharabad), Chilas, Tangir, Darel valley, the Indus Valley below Sazin, the upper Gilgit Valley, Gupis,
Yasin, Punial, Astore Valley, Chitral, Nagar, Hunza, Kohistan, Hodur, Khinar, Astore, Gurez, Dras, Talil and Soro.