Teenagers Maria, Sidra, Niha, and Elishba are just four of countless girls who have been abducted from their homes and forced to convert to Islam in the past year. Sidra and Niha were both abducted less than a month ago, in March 2026.

The abuse goes beyond kidnapping. Maria was taken in July and forced to marry a 30-year-old Muslim man. She later gave a statement saying she had done so of her own will and was now a follower of Islam. 

Despite the efforts of Maria’s parents in court, a Pakistani high court has ruled that the marriage was valid. Sidra and Neha are very likely on the same path with the same outcome.

Pakistani girl (Photo courtesy of Assad Tanoli via Unsplash)

“While this may appear to be a legal matter on the surface, it reflects such a deeper and painful reality faced by many Christian minority families in Pakistan,” says Nehemiah with FMI. 

He calls the situation “modern-day slavery,” as underage girls are kidnapped and then pressured into conversion to Islam and marriage.

“When I say underage girls, we are not talking about 17 or 18 years old, but we are talking about 12-, 13-, 14-year-old girls,” he says.

This pattern has been going on for years. When Christian or Hindu daughters go missing, their families often encounter police inaction, falsified birth records for their underage daughters, and long legal battles. 

Even if a girl escapes or the marriage ends, says Nehemiah, she may still be in danger from her captors and unable to reunite with her family. That’s because Islamic marriage ceremonies require a profession of faith in Allah. 

“Once someone is recognized as a Muslim, leaving Islam, known as apostasy, is not permitted,” says Nehemiah. “In some strict interpretations [of Islam], the penalty for apostasy can be death. And it’s very, very common in Pakistan.”

Pakistani girl (Photo courtesy of Muhammad Taha Khan via Unsplash)

FMI partners share the hope of Christ in the midst of these realities — trusting that even in suffering God is at work. One partner shared Romans 8:38-39 with Nehemiah, remembering that nothing is able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord.

“The situation is like walking on thin ice, yet they continue to bring hope, truth, and the message of Christ to those who are searching,” says Nehemiah. 

Pray with believers in Pakistan for protection for their young women.

“Pray for justice and meaningful legal reforms in Pakistan’s legal system, and pray for courage and safety for FMI partners serving on the ground,” says Nehemiah. 

“Pray for healing for victims and their families. And pray that even in the midst of suffering, many will encounter the love and hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Header photo of Pakistani young women is a stock image courtesy of Assad Tanoli via Unsplash.

Kabul, Afghanistan (Photo courtesy of Mohammad Husaini via Unsplash)

The roots of the conflict between the two nations stretch back decades. Pakistan accuses its neighbor of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist group that wreaks havoc in Pakistan. But Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies this. 

Yet Pakistan’s concern about terrorism is solidly grounded. In 2025, Pakistan had the highest number of deaths in the world due to terrorism (1,139). See the 2026 briefing from the Institute for Economics & Peace here.

“This is a very complex situation and conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, because both sides have very serious concerns,” says Nehemiah with FMI. “Both parties are blaming each other for certain terrorism activities and being more liberal towards the Quran and Islam.” 

Ordinary people have paid the price for the dispute, especially in Afghanistan. The United Nations reports that since February 26, 2026 when Pakistan led airstrikes on TTP camps, the conflict has killed at least 289 civilians in Afghanistan. Last week, a Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, Afghanistan, likely killed and injured hundreds of people. Investigations into that attack are still underway as of this writing. 

“The facility served some of the most vulnerable individuals in society,” says Nehemiah. “Its destruction highlights the severe humanitarian cost of this conflict.” 

Ministry continues under pressure

For gospel workers in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, Nehemiah says security risks have increased, but so too has the spiritual openness of those they serve.

Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“Many are more willing than ever to listen, ask questions, and seek truth beyond what they have known,” Nehemiah says. “This is such a defining moment for the ministry, especially in Afghanistan, because recently we have done a distribution of Pashto and Dari audio Bibles in Afghanistan.”

He says FMI hears incredible stories of people coming to faith. 

“These people [have been] in a war situation for over four decades,” he says. “They want to have a peace and hope in their life. This is the best time to tell them that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and they can find hope only in one person, and His name is Isa al-Masih, Jesus Christ.”

Still, Nehemiah says FMI’s partners are “sitting on gunpowder.”

“I am grateful for our partners who work in such hostile conditions,” he says. “Their faithfulness, their willingness, their stewardship… It’s remarkable.”

Prayer changes the story

Pray for de-escalation and peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Pray for wisdom and courage for ministry workers as they navigate complex situations,” says Nehemiah. “Pray for healing and comfort for families affected by violence on both sides. Pray that many would encounter the hope, love, and peace of Christ in the midst of this suffering.”

He adds that there has been a recent encouraging answer to prayer. 

“We were praying to have something ongoing, or a very serious effort to have a church planting training or sessions in Afghanistan.”

Nehemiah explains that many believers there have never been to a Bible college (or other highly organized group) where they can learn about God’s Word and strategies for spreading the gospel.

“By the grace of God, we are able to start church-planting training and a group of people in Afghanistan. We have been praying for the situation for many, many years, especially in this war-torn society, especially [during the] last three weeks or month [of war],” he says. 

Header photo is a stock image from Afghanistan, courtesy of Rahmat Alizada via Unsplash.

Violent protests broke out on Sunday in Pakistani cities after the Saturday assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei by the United States and Israel.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026 (Wikimedia Commons, CC by 4.0)

Nehemiah with FMI explains that after Iran, Pakistan has the world’s highest population of Shia Muslims.

“There is sadness, there is anger, and there is pain in the Shia population in Pakistan, because Khamenei was their Islamic spiritual leader,” he says. 

Thousands of demonstrators rallied across Pakistan on Sunday, with many attempting to attack US consulates or United Nations buildings. At least 22 people were killed, and more than 120 were injured in clashes with police. The unrest led the US to order the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, local Christians walk on the edge of a sword, says Nehemiah, and Muslim-background believers are the most vulnerable.

“There is a common understanding among Pakistani Muslims — Shias — that we need to understand: They think that every American is Christian, and they think that Pakistani Christians who are living in Pakistan have a soft corner for America and have divided loyalties,” Nehemiah explains.

“Local believers and ministry partners are navigating heightened tensions with public anger fueling large gatherings and anti-foreign sentiment.”

Fear is a natural response to such pressures, but the call to share Christ always remains. Please stand with FMI partners and all gospel workers in Pakistan by praying for their protection, for discernment in crisis, and for a sense of God’s peace. Ask God to open people’s hearts to Christ despite the anger in the nation today. An ongoing conflict with neighboring Afghanistan is also adding to the chaos. 

“If you would like to support our partners who are working in such a hostile situation, please step forward. Pray for them, support them. They would know that they have extended family who are living across the world,” says Nehemiah. 

Learn how you can support one of FMI’s frontline partners by visiting forgottenmissionaries.org. 

A pastor in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI)

Header photo of Pakistan church group courtesy of FMI. 

The fighting follows Pakistan’s controversial airstrikes on Afghan territory over the weekend. 

Nehemiah with FMI explains the bigger picture of those strikes: “Pakistan is blaming Afghanistan that terrorists are using their soil to attack Pakistan,” he says. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban administration denies this, saying that Pakistan’s own failures are to blame for its security crises.

Wherever the blame lies, a real problem remains. A series of deadly suicide bombings has shaken Pakistan this month. The worst was the February 6 attack on an Islamabad mosque, which killed at least 32 people and injured 170 more. 

“It was described as the deadliest attack in Islamabad in more than a decade, and the deadliest nationwide since the January 2023 Peshawar mosque bombing,” says Nehemiah. 

Pakistan says its weekend airstrikes targeted suspected hideouts for two terrorist groups: the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP), and Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). Islamabad has blamed Afghanistan for not taking action against groups like these. However, Kabul says Pakistan’s weekend strikes did not kill 70-80 militant fighters; instead, they say Pakistan hit civilian buildings and killed or injured dozens, including women and children.

More instability for believers to face

Pakistan and Afghanistan share culture, food, and language, says Nehemiah. But their good relationship has deteriorated since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. Since then, Pakistan has dealt with rising militancy concerns. In 2025 alone, there were 2,425 incidents, according to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED).

A gospel worker in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“This escalating tension deeply affects our ministry in both countries,” says Nehemiah. He says FMI partners face travel limitations, communication disruption, and security concerns during times like these. It makes discipleship and outreach even more complex. Stand with these gospel workers in prayer. 

“Pray for boldness and wisdom, that believers would minister with discernment, courage, and sensitivity in such an unpredictable environment,” says Nehemiah. “Pray for gospel opportunities that even in the midst of this situation, instability, God would use suffering to draw many to Himself and strengthen His church.”

Learn more here about FMI’s work of supporting local, indigenous missionaries across the world.

Header photo: Stock photo courtesy of Amar Preciado via Pexels. 

Nehemiah from FMI calls this a grim shift: “This is very, very sad and tragic, and of course, significant, how these women have become part of this terrorist group.”

The attacks killed dozens, including 31 civilians, across multiple locations.

This isn’t the first case. A Baloch female suicide bomber appeared in the 2022 Karachi University attack. Public reports now say hundreds of women in Balochistan are joining the BLA, including as suicide bombers.

Representative photo of Baloch people (photo courtesy of Mostafameraji via Wikimedia Commons)

Some women reportedly join for the fight for “liberation of their community,” because of poverty pressure, or to avenge loved ones. Nehemiah sums it up:

“They want to get separated from Pakistan, and they attack forces, churches, people,” says Nehemiah.

But in this struggle, civilians pay the highest price. “Families live under uncertainty. Markets can close without warning, and trust is fragile,” says Nehemiah, adding that many children grow up with instability and with the sounds of fighting more familiar than school lessons.

Despite the turmoil, Nehemiah encourages that FMI partners are staying focused on Gospel work — and their question is not “Is it safe?” but “Who needs the Gospel next?”

“Our partners face constant challenges, roadblocks, suspicion, weather extremes, and threats from those who oppose the gospel. Yet, praise God, they remain steadfast,” says Nehemiah.

Pray for those grieving loved ones lost. Pray that the Gospel heals the hearts of the Baloch people and gives lasting hope. Pray for FMI workers serving in very dangerous areas — that God would protect them, give them discernment, and strengthen their faith.

If you want to help Baloch people in a practical way, there’s a clear need: audio Bibles. In many areas, literacy rates are very low, and some people can’t read or write even in their own language. Audio Bibles can make a big difference — especially in a person’s mother tongue. Visit FMI to learn more about the work they do!

“Even though there’s brokenness and darkness, not only in Balochistan but in the world, Jesus Christ is the only hope in life,” encourages Nehemiah.

Header photo: Karkh Balochistan (Photo courtesy of Sarfarazahmedakhund via Wikimedia Commons).

The opening of the Lord’s Prayer — “Our Father in heaven” — can sound revolutionary to many people, especially in religions where God isn’t seen as personal or close. Nehemiah with FMI says this message carries vital meaning for people in Afghanistan.

He shares the story of Maqbool.

An example of a house in eastern Afghanistan, Nuristan Province (Photo courtesy of Mustafa via Unsplash)

His father was martyred in Afghanistan for the faith in Christ. Later, extremists burned Maqbool’s home and all his possessions. Instead of breaking him, the tragedy taught Maqbool to rely on God as his Father.

Nehemiah says, “Today, he introduces other fatherless children and families to the same Heavenly Father he has come to know.”

One such story includes Sami, an 11-year-old orphaned by the Taliban and sold into slavery. He worked more than 20 hours a day, barely bringing home enough food to feed his siblings. When Maqbool met him, he knew the Gospel had to be practical.

“When Maqbool learned of Sami’s situation,” Nehemiah adds, “he did not just speak about Jesus, he lived the Gospel. Moved by compassion, Maqbool paid the ransom to free Sami from bondage!”

The act stunned the local tribal chief, who asked who this Jesus is. Maqbool replied, “Jesus is the one true God. He teaches me to love, to serve, and to care for people like Sami. And he does not call us to war or violence, but to peace and joy. He is the reason I am here.”

Touched, the chief allowed Maqbool to teach the community about Christ. The village even hosted a movie night to watch the Jesus film.

Representative photo: Traditional Afghan Attire in Rural Setting (Photo courtesy of Faruk Tokluoğlu via Pexels)

“About 70 men, women, and children gathered to watch, hearing in their own language the story of the Redeemer — the One who frees people from both physical and spiritual bondage,” Nehemiah says.

Find your place in the story. Continue Maqbool’s work through prayerful intercession for Sami, other fatherless boys, the tribal chief, and the people in the village. Pray they would grow in the love of their Heavenly Father.

The work in Afghanistan is challenging. A recent attack on Lala Zeeshan is a reminder that evangelists often pay a high price to bring the Gospel to their people. You can help by supporting FMI’s work — including practical needs like transportation:

“Help them with buying transportation — motorbikes, four wheels, whatever they can do,” Nehemiah says. “This is a great opportunity to help our brothers who work in very, very hostile conditions.”

Header representative photo of an Afghan boy (Photo courtesy of Sayed Rashid Khan via Pexels).

“Gospel has no boundaries, and Gospel is limitless to any country,” says Nehemiah from FMI. And testimonies coming from Afghanistan show that God is on the move. Yet, the Gospel work often comes with a price.

One of those testimonies comes from Lala Zeeshan, a Muslim-background believer who was baptized two years ago. Since then, he has faithfully served alongside the FMI team, helping distribute audio Bibles across Afghanistan so people can hear Scripture in a format that fits the realities of life under pressure and limited access.

Representative photo of Badakhshan, Afghanistan (courtesy of Joel Heard via Unsplash)

That kind of ministry carries risk. When Lala Zeeshan came to Christ, people from his former religious community attacked him.

“His arm and one of his ribs were broken due to persecution by members of a former faith community, Islam, and there was a Muslim extremist who wanted to kill him. Even then he chose to publicly declare his faith in Jesus,” explains Nehemiah.

Despite those threats, he continued serving — until a recent attack.

“During the current Audio Bible distribution campaign in Afghanistan, Lala Zeeshan was brutally attacked by extremists because of his involvement in sharing God’s word,” says Nehemiah.

According to FMI, the assault left him with multiple stab wounds to the lower abdomen and serious injuries. With limited medical facilities available locally, he was given initial emergency care and then transported out of the country for further treatment. By God’s grace, he survived the attack and reached a place where he could receive more comprehensive help.

“This attack is a sobering reminder of the very real cost many believers faced for following Jesus Christ and making His Word known,” adds Nehemiah.

Nehemiah says this situation needs focused prayer from the global Church — not only for Lala Zeeshan’s physical recovery, but also for protection and perseverance for believers serving under constant threat. He says:

“It’s an urgent prayer request for our listeners, please [pray for the] complete healing of Lala Zeeshan’s body and protection from infection or complications.”

Pray for the endurance of Afghan believers as they share God’s love with their communities, and for open hearts as Scripture reaches new areas through audio Bible distribution.

Visit FMI to support their work in Afghanistan.

Header photo: Street scene in Kabul, Afghanistan ( courtesy of Farid Ershad via Unsplash)

On December 5, an unidentified man gunned Pastor Kamran Salamat down outside his home. The husband and father of three was leaving to take his daughter to college. He was still injured from a September attack. 

Nehemiah* with FMI says that tragedies like this cast a long shadow over the Christian community in Pakistan.

Person holding a Bible (Stock photo courtesy of Ivan Samkov via Pexels)

“Pastor Kamran was more than a preacher. He was a shepherd who walked closely with his people,” Nehemiah says. “He supported the poor, trained marginalized women in a sewing center, and shared Christ with boldness. His life embodied a sacrificial love. His death is painful, of course, and that reminds us that for many believers in Pakistan, the cost of discipleship is written in blood.”

Nehemiah says that FMI partners, pastors, disciple-makers, and evangelists “continue to serve under constant threat, often feeling as though they are walking on eggshells in neighborhoods where suspicion and hostility is never far away.” 

Christians make up only 1% of Pakistan’s approximately 253 million people. They suffer physical, social, and legal persecution, yet God gives them resilience. 

“I was talking to a member of the congregation of Pastor Kamran. He said that ‘Even in heartbreak, we hold this hope. The enemy can silence a voice, but he cannot stop the message. God is at work in Pakistan, and the light of Christ still breaks through.’”

Pray for comfort and grace over Kamran Salamat’s wife, children, and congregation. Pray for bold gospel witness to spread in Pakistan and change many people’s hearts, including Kamran’s attackers. 

“Please pray for supernatural protection, that God would be [gospel workers’] shield in a land where persecution is rising,” says Nehemiah. “Pray for wisdom, so that they may know when to speak, where to go, and how to shepherd their people safely.”

*Pseudonym

Header photo: A pastor (not Kamran Salamat) in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI).

“It’s pretty rough at the moment; military movement is pretty serious,” says FMI’s Nehemiah, adding that “challenging” developments require him to change ministry plans frequently as new obstacles arise.

Islamabad (Photo courtesy Pixabay)

An attacker targeted a busy court building in Islamabad yesterday, killing 12 and wounding dozens. A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban initially claimed responsibility for the Islamabad bombing, though later denied it.

Terror linked to Taliban rule

The explosion came less than a day after militants attacked a military college in northwestern Pakistan. Nehemiah says Taliban rule in neighboring Afghanistan provides the perfect cover for attacks like these.

“The government or administration of the Taliban in Afghanistan has very little experience managing peace or building infrastructure. As a result, their rule has created an environment where extremist groups can regroup,” Nehemiah explains.

“This includes the Pakistani Taliban [or TTP], who frequently cross the border to carry out attacks inside Pakistan and then retreat into Afghanistan for refuge.”

Because militants receive shelter and resources in Afghanistan, Nehemiah says, “Pakistan continues to suffer from terrorist attacks targeting security forces, civilians, churches, Christians, or even the Shia (Muslim) minority.”

Moreover, “sustainable peace will require more than negotiation or ceasefire agreements,” he adds. “It demands a transformation of mindset and structure. The Taliban must go beyond their military identity and learn the principles of peace, building, governance, and coexistence.”

Crackdown slows ministry but not the Gospel

Volatility makes ministry work challenging as extra security measures hinder movement. Despite restrictions, Christians continue to bring the hope of Jesus to those in need. Pray for stability in Pakistan so Gospel work can flourish.

(Photo Courtesy FMI Pakistan)

“Pray for transformation in the hearts of extremists and political leaders, that the Prince of Peace will reign in the hearts of men,” Nehemiah requests.

“We believe that Jesus is the only hope for [the Taliban].”

In partnership with Keys for Kids, FMI continues work on audio recordings of Scripture and daily devotional content on MP3 devices in the Dari language. Pray for the resilience of FMI partners and the vocalists involved in the Dari recording project.

“We were about to start distribution in Afghanistan,” Nehemiah says, but rising tensions between the Pakistani government and the Taliban in Afghanistan have made cross-border travel nearly impossible. More about that here.

“Right now, we have the devices in Pakistan, but we are not able to ship [them] into Afghanistan. We have partners who always carry these devices with them into Afghanistan [but] they’re not able to do it.”

Learn how you can support FMI’s work in Pakistan here.

Header image depicts a busy street in Pakistan. Photo courtesy of FMI. 

Aimed at preventing renewed border clashes, discussions orchestrated in Qatar led to a brief pause in fighting. However, negotiations collapsed during the second round of talks last week.

“This ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Taliban highlights the deep complexity of achieving peace in this region,” FMI’s Nehemiah says.

“While there have been repeated calls for a ceasefire and reconciliation, the reality on the ground makes it extremely difficult to sustain peace.”

Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister blames Pakistan for the collapse, saying Islamabad’s demands were “not reasonable or feasible.” Meanwhile, Nehemiah points to the Taliban’s diplomatic naiveté.

Taliban fighters patrol Kabul, August 2021.
(Wikimedia Commons)

“Their entire framework of power and survival depends on conflict and control through fear, not cooperation or civic administration,” he says.

“After taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has struggled to transition from insurgency to governance.”

Faith amid conflict

FMI supports indigenous church planters in both countries, helping believers carry the Gospel to those who need it most. The ministry also operates a safe house in Afghanistan and provides discipleship training. Learn more here.

Right now, however, “Our partners, who have dual citizenship, are not able to travel inside [or] outside; they are just trapped,” Nehemiah says.

The Taliban’s brutal regime creates a hunger for the Gospel in Afghanistan. Pray that believers will have supernatural boldness to share the hope of Christ.

One pastor recently watched The JESUS Film with his tribal chief, FMI shared in a recent newsletter. Another pastor hands out 10 Bibles every day – an act which could get him killed if he were discovered – but he feels he’s not doing enough to meet the demand.

Subscribe to FMI’s prayer newsletter here.

Prayers for the faithful

Now that you know, how will you respond? “Please pray for financial, spiritual, and emotional resources for our partners,” Nehemiah requests.

“Ask God to provide for their needs and sustain their families as they serve faithfully under hardship.”

Pray that the Lord will surround FMI partners and their families with His divine protection as they serve in areas affected by violence, terrorism, and political unrest.

“When I was talking to our partner in Afghanistan, he quoted from Psalm 91:4, saying, ‘He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart,” Nehemiah says.

“This is what he’s telling his partners on the ground as he’s leading a very small congregation in Afghanistan.”

Header image is a representative photo depicting a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Global Catalytic Minitsries.