The place and role of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in the state system of Tajikistan

The paper suggests a description of the place occupied in Tajikistan by the largest and less populated territory of the republic, namely Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, inhabited mostly by relative to Tajiks Pamiri peoples that possess ethnic and confessional identity of their own and speak about a dozen of Easter Iranian languages. A part of the region is also inhabited by a small number of nomadic Kyrgyz clans.
The role of the region and its population in the history, economic and political development of Tajikistan, especially in post-Soviet period, as well as its future potential and possible threats to its peoples are considered at some length.

Tajikistan, Gorno-Badakhshan, Pamir, “roof of the world”, 1992–1997 Civil War in Tajikistan, E. Rakhmon, authoritarianism, Ismailism, Aga-Khan IV, tourism in Badakhshan, mineral resources of Badakhshan, narcotraffic, Islamic militants

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