Is Central Asia About to Get a New Country?

Become a member on Patreon & get your name in the credits + exclusive content! https://www.patreon.com/generalknowledge Most people know Central Asia as the land of the “-stans”—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. But inside Tajikistan, hidden high in the Pamir Mountains, lies a vast autonomous region that could one day become the world’s next country. Gorno-Badakhshan - which occupies 45% of Tajikistan’s land but is home to just 2% of its population is remote, isolated, historically semi-independent, and culturally very different from the rest of the country. Its people, the Pamiris, are not Tajik. They speak distinct Iranian languages, not Tajik. They follow Ismaili Shi’a Islam instead of Sunni Islam. And they even have their own flag, history, and separatist movement. Could we be witnessing the birth of a new country in Central Asia? What would it mean for Tajikistan, China, Afghanistan, and even Russia? And how likely is it, really? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 A new Central Asian country? 00:58 Etymology 01:43 Location & Capital city 02:39 Ethnicity, Culture and Language 03:22 Unique Religion 04:37 Their Flag 05:12 The Greater Badakhshan region 06:04 Why is it a part of Tajikistan? 10:02 The rise of separatist movements 12:01 Badakhshan "Autonomous" Province 14:12 How could independence happen now? 16:11 An Ismailism Holy See? Stay up to date on more content from me: