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Central
Asia, west of China
Lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo)
300 m
Highest point: Qullai Ismoili
Somoni 7,495 m
Capital: Dushanbe
Religion: Sunni Muslim 85%,
Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10%
Languages Spoken: Tajik (official),
Russian
widely used in government and business
See also: Languages
spoken in Asia, Languages of the
world
Information & Brief History
The Tajik people came under Russian
rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened
following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely
contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent
in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union and has now completed
its transition from the civil war that plagued the country from 1992 to
1997. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although
the country remains the poorest in the region. Attention by the international
community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic
development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability
in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade
Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
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Tajikistan
