Site Information:  Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union

Title:         
Tajikistan

Public Affairs

Source:         Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Public
                 Communication

Description:    Washington, DC

Date:           May 27, 19925/27/92

Category:       Site Information

Region:         Eurasia

Country:        Tajikistan, USSR (former)

Subject:        History, Democratization, Trade/Economics,
                 Cultural Exchange

Map: Central, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Republics

[TEXT]

Overview

The Tajiks of today are descended from one of the most ancient
settled societies in Central Asia; archaeological remains date back
to at least 3000 BC.  They are the only Central Asian people
descended from the Persians-the others are Turkic in origin-and
the Tajik language of today is related closely to the Farsi dialect
spoken in Afghanistan.

        The land and its people were well-known in ancient times, and
the local kingdoms of Bactria and Sogdiana were tributary states of
the Persian Empire. In 329 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the
region, followed by Arab invaders in the 7th century AD, who
converted the people to Islam.  In the 10th century, Turkic invaders
replaced the Arabs.

        Although other invasions followed-notably the Mongols in
1221-the Tajiks developed an impressive culture.  The magnificent
ruins at Bukhara and Samarkand, today inside the boundaries of
Uzbekistan, are products of Tajik culture, and the Tajiks have been
notable contributors to Persian literature since the 10th century
AD.

        In the mid-15th century, Tajikistan was conquered by the
nomadic Uzbeks and became part of the emirate of Bukhara, until
the mid-18th century when it was conquered by the Afghans.  In the
1860s, Russia gained control of some Tajik territory, and, after the
1917 revolution, attempted to absorb the country.  That attempt
was not without cost, and it triggered a major rebellion, the
Basmachi revolt, in 1922.  Although the rebels operated in some
parts of the country until 1931, the area became a constituent
republic of the USSR in 1929.  Despite Soviet rule, the Tajiks
remained religious, and the area has been in ferment since the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980.  Because many of the Tajiks
in Afghanistan were descendents of those involved in the Basmachi
revolt, the Soviets were compelled to remove Tajiks from their
Afghanistan army.

        Tajikistan declared its independence on September 9, 1991.

        Today, the population is ethnically mixed, and there are about
4 million Tajiks in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with another 4
million across the border in Afghanistan.

"The Mountainous Heart of Asia"

*  The Pamir mountain range, known as the "roof of the world", runs
through Tajikistan and extends into China and Afghanistan.  The two
highest peaks in the former Soviet Union are in Tajikistan.

        *  More than 50% of the country lies above 10,000 ft.; less than
10% of its land is valley.  Severe earthquakes are common.

        *  Tajikistan's neighbors are China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan,
and Kyrgyzstan.  Pakistan is only 20 miles away-separated from
Tajikistan by a narrow Afghan corridor.

        *  Most Tajiks live in rural qishlags of 200-700 homes.  In
mountainous areas, qishlags generally consist of 15-20 homes.
Since space is at a premium, the flat roof of one home generally
serves as the yard for the home above.

        *  Temperatures can vary widely. In the subtropical valleys,
temperatures can reach 87øF in the summer, with mountain lows of
-50øF in the winter.  In Dushanbe in February, temperatures are
expected to be 32øF.

        *  Tajikistan is experiencing a high population growth rate,
and 50% of the population is under 20 years old.

        *  More than 5,000 different flowers can be found in the
country.

        *  Tajikistan is rich in mineral deposits and is a major
producer of cotton.

Principal Government Officials

President:  Rakhman Nabiyev
Prime Minister:  Akbar Mirzoyev
Minister of Foreign Affairs:  Khudoiberdi Kholiqnazarov

Capital:  Dushanbe
     Dushanbe was founded in 1922 on the site of the village of Dush.
From 1929-61, the city was known as Stalinabad.