The Tajiks come from an ancient stock – the inhabitants of the Pamir Mountains claim to be the only pure descendants of the Aryan tribes who invaded India over 4000 years ago, and that the Saxon tribes of Western Europe also originated there. Tajikistan’s inaccessibility has protected it from most invaders, although Alexander the Great founded a city on the site of modern-day Khojand, calling it Alexandria Eskate (Alexandria the Furthest).

Tajikistan was established as a sovereign state in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The ensuing power struggle led to civil war in late 1992, resulting in about 30,000 deaths. In 1994, Russian troops were brought in at the request of the beleaguered regime. Moscow also brokered negotiations between the government and the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). By 1997, the government and opposition had gradually put together a workable deal, under which the UTO accepted a 30 per cent share of administrative responsibilities and integrated some of its units into the army. The government would, for its part, legalize the main opposition political parties that were previously banned.

It is now nine years since the opposing parties signed the 1997 peace agreement that brought the Tajik civil war to an end and the political situation is currently stable. Tajikistan was never well equipped with a comprehensive infrastructure for tourists, and some sites were destroyed in the civil war at the end of 1992. However, there is still much to see. The country's mountainous terrain is ideally suited to the adventurous trekker, while the ancient Silk Road routes, incorporating some of Tajikistan's most stunning landscapes, offer a glimpse into a more prosperous era.

Geography
Tajikistan is bordered by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north, Afghanistan to the south and China (PR) to the east. 93 per cent of the republic is occupied by mountains, most notably by the sparsely populated Pamir Mountains, which include Mount Garmo (formerly Pik Kommunizma; 7495m/24,590ft), the highest point of the former Soviet Union. The mountainous terrain means that in winter it is impossible to reach the east or the north of the country by road without taking a detour through Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In the fertile plains of the southwest, cotton dominates the agriculture. In the north, in the Khudzand (formerly Leninabad) region, cotton and silk are the main crops.