Pamiri Ethnic Nationalism in Tajikistan; a Rising Threat against Future of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Abstract

Pamiri ethnic nationalism in Post-Soviet Tajikistan has led to short-lived sovereign status in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region from 1992 to 1997 that has now been transmitted in the remaining parts of entire Badakhshan Region / Pamir Mountain Range; covering Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County of Tajikistan, and, Chitral District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Gilgit-Baltistan Autonomous Region of Pakistan. As Pak-China Economic Corridor is crossing through Gilgit-Baltistan, anti-Pakistan elements can not only trigger Pamiri ethnic nationalism on the basis of former historical sovereignty, separate linguistic identity, or unique sectarian believes. This study discusses the ways of the Pamiri ethnic community in the entire Badakhshan Region that has little been inspiring from the ethnonational separatism in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan. Similarly, anti-Pakistan and anti-CPEC elements are also analyzed in this study that is trying to disturb the socio-political and religious environment of Gilgit-Baltistan to disrupt CPEC. Future assessments of the region after completing CPEC, historical background and economic worth of the Gilgit-Baltistan, and, developmental opportunities for Afghanistan and Tajikistan are also observed in this study.