Pamiris

The Pamiris are an Eastern Iranian ethnic group, native to the Badakhshan region of Central Asia, which includes the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan; the Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan; Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, China; and the Upper Hunza Valley in Pakistan. Tajiks of Xinjiang The Pamiris are composed of people who speak the Pamiri languages, the indigenous language in the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province. The Pamiris share close linguistic, cultural and religious ties with the people in Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan, the Sarikoli speakers in the Pamir region of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang Province in China and the Wakhi speakers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the Pamiri languages, the Pamiris refer to themselves as Pamiri, a reference to the historic Badakhshan region where they live. In China, Pamiris are referred to as ethnic Tajiks. In Afghanistan, they are recognized as ethnic Pamiris and the Afghan National Anthem mentions Pamiris (پاميريان, Pāmiryān) in the list of ethnic groups of Afghanistan. In Pakistan, Wakhi Pamiri people live in the Gojal Sub-Division of Hunza District, Broghil Valley of Upper Chitral & Karambar. The Pamiri people have their own distinctive styles of dress, which can differentiate one community from the next. The styles of hats are especially varied: one can spot someone from the Wakhan, as opposed to from Ruhshon or Shugnon valleys, based solely on headwear. The Shughni and Wakhi tribes in Tajikistan call themselves "Tajik" unlike other Pamiri tribes in the area like the Rushan. Ancient History The Pamiris are known to be the descendants of the Scythians who lived in Xinjiang. The Wakhi group of the Pamiris linguistically seem to be related to the Khotanese group of Sakas. The Wakhis had some point in the 6th century AD established a kingdom in Wakhan known as the Mirdom of Wakhan ruled by a mir. Modern History In 1929 Gorno-Badakhshan was attached to the newly formed republic of Tajikistan, and since that point, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the ethnic identity of the Pamiris.